ANYONE NEEDING BOOK COVER HELP, JUST LET ME KNOW...I'M WILLING TO HELP IF I CAN PROBABLY JUST FOR A REVIEW OF ONE OF MY NOVELS...YOU CAN'T BEAT THAT :)Friday, May 01, 2009
CONCEPTS AND ACTUAL BOOK COVERS: BY ME
ANYONE NEEDING BOOK COVER HELP, JUST LET ME KNOW...I'M WILLING TO HELP IF I CAN PROBABLY JUST FOR A REVIEW OF ONE OF MY NOVELS...YOU CAN'T BEAT THAT :)
NEW MORE DRAMATIC COVER!
Hey folks, I've done some revision to the cover for my Christian Action-thriller, HALLOWED BE THY NAME. See if you think this is more dramatic! Click the cover to check out the back copy description. "Jonathan Hallowed undergoes a real trial of faith as he tries to understand why God has allowed this situation to happen to him and whether or not to sacrifice his life in order to use the power he's been given in order to save those around him."
Monday, April 27, 2009
"PERDITIONS GATE" COMING SOON!
I've got several new novels about to be released in the near future..."Hallowed Be Thy Name" has already been released as a paperback and Kindle book as well as "The Chronicles of S0one: Rise of Lucin."
PERDITIONS GATE is coming soon. This is a Christian action-thriller involving special ops, in a near future setting, lots of intrigue, etc. Check out the back cover copy when you click to blow it up :D
For any self published authors interested in Book Cover work, I'm also willing to do that and CHEAP. email me jamessremos(at)yahoo.com and we'll talk. This PERDITIONS GATE front and back cover is a sample of my work--click it to see full size.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
HALLOWED BE THY NAME - PREVIEW
PREVIEW: FIRST TWO CHAPTERS OF "HALLOWED BE THY NAME"--now available!
1 PROWARD STREET STATION
Only an idiot would dare travel through Donalee at night. That’s what Dr. Trenton Hallowed had read in today’s newspaper. He opened the door of his Lexus sedan, a tall man of slim build, dark hair and stepped into the street at the intersection of Walnut and Vineyard. New-car-smell segued into late evening after-the-rain. He toggled the trunk switch and the lid popped open. Trenton placed his key set in the pocket of his suit pants and removed a knee length white lab coat, folding it up as he walked around to the rear bumper and set it inside. A Genetic Corp employee pass-badge lay clipped on the front pocket face up.
Trenton removed a brown suit jacket from the trunk and pulled it on. He paused a moment to wipe his wire-rimmed glasses with a monogrammed white handkerchief then seated them securely upon the bridge of his nose with an after-push. He retrieved a beige fedora and black leather briefcase and capped his outfit before closing the trunk lid.
Trenton scanned the area and then crossed Vineyard Street reaching into his pocket to depress the keychain. The hazard lights on the Lexus flashed behind him with a chirp as he stepped up onto the sidewalk. Rainwater splashed his hat brim from the streetlight as he passed under. To his right, a digital billboard flashed the date and time in between advertisements. Trenton scanned the Rolex on his left wrist. His timepiece read two minutes fast at 10:30 PM.
Trenton opened one of the glass double doors to the Vineyard Street Subway station and walked inside. This late in the evening, the station was virtually abandoned. Custodians operated sweepers while a few others waxed the floor. Walking through the station, he noticed how impeccably clean everything was.
The marble floor showed very little signs of wear as did the costly leather couches and mahogany tables sitting in the vestibule. The custodians performed a duty, not a necessity. Only then did Trenton consider that most people living in Imperial City’s Hilton borough didn’t need public transportation. It held a stigma here.
As Trenton approached the turnstiles, he saw a burly security officer leaning against one of two attendant booths. One stood dark, while the other housed a lone female attendant with curly blonde hair who was engaged in conversation with the officer. They seemed surprised to see anyone actually coming into the station, especially at this time of night.
“Good evening, sir,” the security officer said. He straightened and Trenton wondered if all he did every night was stand there talking to the pretty girl in the attendant booth. “Would you like an escort?” the man asked.
“No thank you.” Trenton kept his fedora at an angle shadowing his facial features. He passed his right hand over the turnstile sensor and it automatically scanned the Hilton identification band on his ring finger. A green light on top of the turnstile flashed and Trenton walked through unhindered. “Have a lovely evening, sir,” the security officer said.
Trenton kept walking and did not reply. An escalator carried him down to the train platform. Two more security officers sat at a desk to his right. They were already looking at him by the time he cleared the short hallway leading onto the platform. He made a mental note of several camera mounts positioned in the ceiling corners. “Hello, sir,” one of the men said from behind the counter.
Trenton nodded to them with a slight tug on his brim. Neither of the guards showed enough interest to actually come over and investigate. He examined his watch again. 10:37PM.
A train howled coming through the tunnel on approach to Vineyard Station. The automated train engine emerged from the tunnel trailing five passenger cars. When the car doors opened with a hydraulic hiss, the yellow barrier gates followed suit—five gates swung open giving access to this lone passenger. Trenton boarded and sat down in the empty train car.
The computer controlling the train waited two more minutes, sounded an intent-to-board alarm bell then closed the passenger cars. Trenton pulled a current newspaper from his briefcase, began reading and waited. No other passengers had boarded while in Hilton, just as he had expected.
In a matter of minutes, the train covered miles of underground and overland track. It left the Hilton borough altogether—immediately entering the Branton borough. Trenton read with the pages held aloft blocking his view of any passengers who might board. All he heard at each stop were the doors. He waited.
When the computerized female voice announced that his train had passed into the Donalee borough, Trenton’s palms began to sweat. This was it—his field experiment was about to happen. The train stopped at the Proward Street station—the same as the news article Trenton had read. The door hissed and opened. The smell of sweat and cigarette smoke invaded the train car along with several sets of footsteps.
Trenton’s newspaper exploded away from his hands revealing four armed men—two with knives, one with a lead pipe, the last swinging a thick chain. Trenton noticed two overly made-up young women waiting outside the subway car door. One held a .38 caliber pistol—Saturday night special. Two of the men grabbed Trenton out of his seat and slung him out of the train onto the platform. Trenton stumbled but did not resist. The doors closed back into place. Seconds later the automated train left the station, leaving the famous geneticist behind.
Trenton stood on stained gray concrete in the midst of the four men and two women on the Proward Station platform. Graffiti adorned every wall. “The wallet and briefcase now, fancy pants!” one of the men said. Trenton searched for camera mounts and found all of them torn down.
He smiled. Perfect.
Only an idiot would dare travel through Donalee at night. That’s what Dr. Trenton Hallowed had read in today’s newspaper. He opened the door of his Lexus sedan, a tall man of slim build, dark hair and stepped into the street at the intersection of Walnut and Vineyard. New-car-smell segued into late evening after-the-rain. He toggled the trunk switch and the lid popped open. Trenton placed his key set in the pocket of his suit pants and removed a knee length white lab coat, folding it up as he walked around to the rear bumper and set it inside. A Genetic Corp employee pass-badge lay clipped on the front pocket face up.
Trenton removed a brown suit jacket from the trunk and pulled it on. He paused a moment to wipe his wire-rimmed glasses with a monogrammed white handkerchief then seated them securely upon the bridge of his nose with an after-push. He retrieved a beige fedora and black leather briefcase and capped his outfit before closing the trunk lid.
Trenton scanned the area and then crossed Vineyard Street reaching into his pocket to depress the keychain. The hazard lights on the Lexus flashed behind him with a chirp as he stepped up onto the sidewalk. Rainwater splashed his hat brim from the streetlight as he passed under. To his right, a digital billboard flashed the date and time in between advertisements. Trenton scanned the Rolex on his left wrist. His timepiece read two minutes fast at 10:30 PM.
Trenton opened one of the glass double doors to the Vineyard Street Subway station and walked inside. This late in the evening, the station was virtually abandoned. Custodians operated sweepers while a few others waxed the floor. Walking through the station, he noticed how impeccably clean everything was.
The marble floor showed very little signs of wear as did the costly leather couches and mahogany tables sitting in the vestibule. The custodians performed a duty, not a necessity. Only then did Trenton consider that most people living in Imperial City’s Hilton borough didn’t need public transportation. It held a stigma here.
As Trenton approached the turnstiles, he saw a burly security officer leaning against one of two attendant booths. One stood dark, while the other housed a lone female attendant with curly blonde hair who was engaged in conversation with the officer. They seemed surprised to see anyone actually coming into the station, especially at this time of night.
“Good evening, sir,” the security officer said. He straightened and Trenton wondered if all he did every night was stand there talking to the pretty girl in the attendant booth. “Would you like an escort?” the man asked.
“No thank you.” Trenton kept his fedora at an angle shadowing his facial features. He passed his right hand over the turnstile sensor and it automatically scanned the Hilton identification band on his ring finger. A green light on top of the turnstile flashed and Trenton walked through unhindered. “Have a lovely evening, sir,” the security officer said.
Trenton kept walking and did not reply. An escalator carried him down to the train platform. Two more security officers sat at a desk to his right. They were already looking at him by the time he cleared the short hallway leading onto the platform. He made a mental note of several camera mounts positioned in the ceiling corners. “Hello, sir,” one of the men said from behind the counter.
Trenton nodded to them with a slight tug on his brim. Neither of the guards showed enough interest to actually come over and investigate. He examined his watch again. 10:37PM.
A train howled coming through the tunnel on approach to Vineyard Station. The automated train engine emerged from the tunnel trailing five passenger cars. When the car doors opened with a hydraulic hiss, the yellow barrier gates followed suit—five gates swung open giving access to this lone passenger. Trenton boarded and sat down in the empty train car.
The computer controlling the train waited two more minutes, sounded an intent-to-board alarm bell then closed the passenger cars. Trenton pulled a current newspaper from his briefcase, began reading and waited. No other passengers had boarded while in Hilton, just as he had expected.
In a matter of minutes, the train covered miles of underground and overland track. It left the Hilton borough altogether—immediately entering the Branton borough. Trenton read with the pages held aloft blocking his view of any passengers who might board. All he heard at each stop were the doors. He waited.
When the computerized female voice announced that his train had passed into the Donalee borough, Trenton’s palms began to sweat. This was it—his field experiment was about to happen. The train stopped at the Proward Street station—the same as the news article Trenton had read. The door hissed and opened. The smell of sweat and cigarette smoke invaded the train car along with several sets of footsteps.
Trenton’s newspaper exploded away from his hands revealing four armed men—two with knives, one with a lead pipe, the last swinging a thick chain. Trenton noticed two overly made-up young women waiting outside the subway car door. One held a .38 caliber pistol—Saturday night special. Two of the men grabbed Trenton out of his seat and slung him out of the train onto the platform. Trenton stumbled but did not resist. The doors closed back into place. Seconds later the automated train left the station, leaving the famous geneticist behind.
Trenton stood on stained gray concrete in the midst of the four men and two women on the Proward Station platform. Graffiti adorned every wall. “The wallet and briefcase now, fancy pants!” one of the men said. Trenton searched for camera mounts and found all of them torn down.
He smiled. Perfect.
2 CHAOS
Detective Michael Stamos depressed the button to roll down the passenger side window of his unmarked police cruiser. “Richard do you have to smoke those things?” he asked. “You’re gonna get cancer.”
“At least I’ll die happy,” Richard said. He blew a stream of cigarette smoke out the window.
“Well I don’t want cancer. My dad passed away last year.”
Richard looked at him. “I thought he had a heart attack.”
“What’s your point? He died…I don’t want you to kill me with your nasty habit.”
Richard chuckled, drew a final drag and flicked the butt out the window. “Happy?”
“I will be when you finally quit.” He rolled the window back up.
“Maybe I’ll quit when you get married.”
“Hey now, I like my space,” Michael said. He turned a corner keeping one eye on the GPS screen.
“You’ll never find a woman with that attitude. You gotta give a little—stop being such a lone wolf.”
“I like lone wolf and who says I’m looking?” He turned another corner and ran through a red light—siren blaring outside and police lights flashing. “Besides, I’ve got you,”
“Now that’s scary,” Richard said, rolling his eyes.
“Yeah, yeah…I mean, if I want someone to nag me about what I’m doing and where I’m going, I’ve got you. I don’t need a wife for that.”
Richard ran his thick fingers through his wavy gray hair. “Do we have any information on this one?”
“Just six dead bangers.”
“A Joy deal gone bad?”
“Sounded more like a robbery that backfired,” Michael said.
“Vigilante?” Richard mused. “Interesting.”
“That’s all we need. If they’re any of Ming’s people, we’ll have a bloodbath on our hands.”
“I should’ve capped him when we had the chance,” Richard said.
“They’d have locked you up on that one.” A multitude of police lights flashed down the road ahead of them—a swarm of angry fireflies. “The guy was unarmed.”
“Yeah, but he was guilty,” Richard said.
“You know how that goes.”
“Would’ve been nice to get him when he was still just a two-bit punk,” Richard said as he checked his sidearm beneath his beige sport coat. “Now nobody can get near him.”
Michael pulled up to the subway station at Proward Street. He and Richard got out of the car with their badges ready just in case some rookie tried to stop them crossing the police line. They ducked under the black and yellow tape and walked through a nest of black and whites.
The two detectives entered the Proward Street subway station, passing several officers they knew well. An emergency entrance bypassed the turnstiles and all the traffic flowed through it. Mike and Richard walked through with several forensics technicians and followed them down three flights of stairs to the large subway platform below.
Emergency lighting had been imported because most of the platform lighting had been damaged. Fluorescent bulbs still flickered. A uniformed police officer vomited into a station-labeled trashcan. “Oh boy.” Richard sighed. “It’s gonna be one of those nights.”
“Nothing we haven’t seen before,” Michael said. But as he and his partner entered the crime scene, Michael realized he was wrong.
Crime scene investigators and technicians worked like ants gathering food for the winter. The entire platform was showered with gore. Cameras flashed almost continually. Richard stood wide-eyed. Michael felt like joining the uniform at the trashcan.
The area had been taped off to prevent officers from messing up the crime scene. Michael and Richard remained behind it. The call involved six gang members. One, a female, lay dead with her own pistol shoved halfway inside her mouth. A Caucasian male had been wrapped like a horseshoe around a support pillar with his back broken. An Asian male, gang member lay ten feet away crumpled in a heap beneath a blood-smeared wall. It appeared as though he had been swung by his legs and repeatedly smashed into the graffiti and white tile of the Proward Station platform.
Another female lay on the dirty concrete floor—her body nearly unrecognizable as being human. An African-American male had been bludgeoned to a pulp and thrown up into the roof girders—ten feet in the air.
A team worked feverishly to manually back up one of the automated passenger trains. When the men finally got it pushed back to the point where technicians could examine it, Michael saw evidence of the sixth gang member. All that remained of the man was the splash of crimson left on the front of the automated subway engine—the final resting place of a wayward insect.
“Who could’ve done this?” Michael asked.
“—Or what?” Richard licked his lips as though something fowl had been belched up.
One of the crime scene investigators, Linda Phelps, signaled Detective Link to come through the tape barrier. “Hey, Mike, we're in.”
The two detectives passed under the tape and cautiously made their way around technicians collecting forensic data. They walked over to the first female victim where Officer Phelps knelt examining the body. “The gun was forced into her mouth through her teeth,” she said. “The killer broke her fingers forcing her to pull the trigger.”
“One person did all this?” Richard asked.
“There is only one set of shoeprints besides the victims—my first impression is a loafer or dress shoe, size eleven. Whoever did this is incredibly strong—the guy in the rafters is 220 lbs easy,” Linda said.
Michael noticed the bloody prints smudged in various places on the concrete.
“So we’re looking for a linebacker on angel dust?” Richard asked.
“Try a grizzly bear,” Michael said.
“Actually, you’re both wrong,” Phelps said. “The bruising patterns suggest someone with normal handbreadth.”
Michael looked closer at the bruising on the girl’s arm. “How is that possible?”
“That’s why you’re a detective, Detective.”
Detective Michael Stamos depressed the button to roll down the passenger side window of his unmarked police cruiser. “Richard do you have to smoke those things?” he asked. “You’re gonna get cancer.”
“At least I’ll die happy,” Richard said. He blew a stream of cigarette smoke out the window.
“Well I don’t want cancer. My dad passed away last year.”
Richard looked at him. “I thought he had a heart attack.”
“What’s your point? He died…I don’t want you to kill me with your nasty habit.”
Richard chuckled, drew a final drag and flicked the butt out the window. “Happy?”
“I will be when you finally quit.” He rolled the window back up.
“Maybe I’ll quit when you get married.”
“Hey now, I like my space,” Michael said. He turned a corner keeping one eye on the GPS screen.
“You’ll never find a woman with that attitude. You gotta give a little—stop being such a lone wolf.”
“I like lone wolf and who says I’m looking?” He turned another corner and ran through a red light—siren blaring outside and police lights flashing. “Besides, I’ve got you,”
“Now that’s scary,” Richard said, rolling his eyes.
“Yeah, yeah…I mean, if I want someone to nag me about what I’m doing and where I’m going, I’ve got you. I don’t need a wife for that.”
Richard ran his thick fingers through his wavy gray hair. “Do we have any information on this one?”
“Just six dead bangers.”
“A Joy deal gone bad?”
“Sounded more like a robbery that backfired,” Michael said.
“Vigilante?” Richard mused. “Interesting.”
“That’s all we need. If they’re any of Ming’s people, we’ll have a bloodbath on our hands.”
“I should’ve capped him when we had the chance,” Richard said.
“They’d have locked you up on that one.” A multitude of police lights flashed down the road ahead of them—a swarm of angry fireflies. “The guy was unarmed.”
“Yeah, but he was guilty,” Richard said.
“You know how that goes.”
“Would’ve been nice to get him when he was still just a two-bit punk,” Richard said as he checked his sidearm beneath his beige sport coat. “Now nobody can get near him.”
Michael pulled up to the subway station at Proward Street. He and Richard got out of the car with their badges ready just in case some rookie tried to stop them crossing the police line. They ducked under the black and yellow tape and walked through a nest of black and whites.
The two detectives entered the Proward Street subway station, passing several officers they knew well. An emergency entrance bypassed the turnstiles and all the traffic flowed through it. Mike and Richard walked through with several forensics technicians and followed them down three flights of stairs to the large subway platform below.
Emergency lighting had been imported because most of the platform lighting had been damaged. Fluorescent bulbs still flickered. A uniformed police officer vomited into a station-labeled trashcan. “Oh boy.” Richard sighed. “It’s gonna be one of those nights.”
“Nothing we haven’t seen before,” Michael said. But as he and his partner entered the crime scene, Michael realized he was wrong.
Crime scene investigators and technicians worked like ants gathering food for the winter. The entire platform was showered with gore. Cameras flashed almost continually. Richard stood wide-eyed. Michael felt like joining the uniform at the trashcan.
The area had been taped off to prevent officers from messing up the crime scene. Michael and Richard remained behind it. The call involved six gang members. One, a female, lay dead with her own pistol shoved halfway inside her mouth. A Caucasian male had been wrapped like a horseshoe around a support pillar with his back broken. An Asian male, gang member lay ten feet away crumpled in a heap beneath a blood-smeared wall. It appeared as though he had been swung by his legs and repeatedly smashed into the graffiti and white tile of the Proward Station platform.
Another female lay on the dirty concrete floor—her body nearly unrecognizable as being human. An African-American male had been bludgeoned to a pulp and thrown up into the roof girders—ten feet in the air.
A team worked feverishly to manually back up one of the automated passenger trains. When the men finally got it pushed back to the point where technicians could examine it, Michael saw evidence of the sixth gang member. All that remained of the man was the splash of crimson left on the front of the automated subway engine—the final resting place of a wayward insect.
“Who could’ve done this?” Michael asked.
“—Or what?” Richard licked his lips as though something fowl had been belched up.
One of the crime scene investigators, Linda Phelps, signaled Detective Link to come through the tape barrier. “Hey, Mike, we're in.”
The two detectives passed under the tape and cautiously made their way around technicians collecting forensic data. They walked over to the first female victim where Officer Phelps knelt examining the body. “The gun was forced into her mouth through her teeth,” she said. “The killer broke her fingers forcing her to pull the trigger.”
“One person did all this?” Richard asked.
“There is only one set of shoeprints besides the victims—my first impression is a loafer or dress shoe, size eleven. Whoever did this is incredibly strong—the guy in the rafters is 220 lbs easy,” Linda said.
Michael noticed the bloody prints smudged in various places on the concrete.
“So we’re looking for a linebacker on angel dust?” Richard asked.
“Try a grizzly bear,” Michael said.
“Actually, you’re both wrong,” Phelps said. “The bruising patterns suggest someone with normal handbreadth.”
Michael looked closer at the bruising on the girl’s arm. “How is that possible?”
“That’s why you’re a detective, Detective.”
Monday, April 20, 2009
BLAGGARDS MOON by George Bryan Polivka
BLAGGARDS MOON by George Bryan Polivka, the author of the Legend of the Firefish series, has come out with another excellent novel from the world of Nearing Vast!
This piratey tale reminded me very much of recent pirate novels I've read by my friend, Wayne Batson. However there are some differences. Isle of Swords & Isle of Fire were generally slated for a little younger audience and carry a faster pace than Blaggard's Moon by far. Polivka's voice tends to be a bit more literary. He's taking his time to really craft a tale here, where the others are more of a thrill ride. Both are excellent for what they are and it simply depends upon your personal taste. If you liked the Legend of the Firefish then you won't be disappointed, but if you tend to enjoy the "thrill ride" more, then prepare to take some time with this one. One thing that jumped out at me right off the bat was Polivka's use of "Sea Monkeys." How many of us can still remember the lovable little sea monkeys in comic books that you had to send off for...I believe you ended up with a packet of sprinkles or something in the end...well, these sea monkeys may just scare you out of your wits! Enjoy :)
Monday, March 16, 2009
HUNTER BROWN AND THE SECRET OF SHADOW
HUNTER BROWN AND THE SECRET OF SHADOW by The Miller Brothers is one of the latest Christian YA fantasies to come our way and appears to be quite a hit with young people already.
The novel is set for young teens and is very similar in scope to Wayne Batson's Door Within Trilogy. Hunter is your typical awkward teen, but codebearers in another dimension already know who he is as do the vile Shadow. When Hunter is led to discover a mysterious book in a bookstore that suddenly isn't there anymore, his whole existence is turned upside down. Soon he's being hunted by Mysterious creatures he never even knew existed called the Shadow. The Book transports him into another world where an epic battle is underway and Hunter Brown is already a vital key to the ultimate outcome.
I'd recommend this one for teens and tweens and both boys and girls who enjoy portal fantasy novels will likely enjoy it!
HALLOWED BE THY NAME
Hello Everyone, I've been busy writing as always it seems and I've just released a new Christian Thriller, Action, Horror novel entitled "HALLOWED BE THY NAME."
"Feeling sure he has finally cracked the secrets of man's evolution, Dr. Trenton Hallowed uses himself as a guinea pig for his new genetic mutagen. He soon finds himself upon the threshold of unbelievable power. But a vicious beast is waking within him. An increasing number of people turn up brutally murdered in the lower districts of the city as Trenton celebrates new success. Jonathan Hallowed, the victim of a mob hit during one of Trenton Hallowed's exhibitions, wakes in a morgue drawer wrapped in a body bag. His flesh is riddled with bullet wounds, yet he lives. Jonathan must figure out what has happened to him and why the police are calling his cousin Trenton a vicious murderer. Even worse, Jonathan may be the only one who can stop him."
Click the link to purchase a paperback copy for merely the print cost -
HALLOWED BE THY NAME - PAPERBACK COPY
This has been a little bit of a departure from the YA stuff I've been working on, but I've really enjoyed it. As always, the story zoooms along with plenty of action.
HALLOWED BE THY NAME - PAPERBACK COPY
This has been a little bit of a departure from the YA stuff I've been working on, but I've really enjoyed it. As always, the story zoooms along with plenty of action.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
CYNDERE'S MIDNIGHT by JEFFREY OVERSTREET
CYNDERE'S MIDNIGHT by JEFFREY OVERSTREET is the new sequel to Auralia's Colors by Waterbrook Publishing.
House Abascar has fallen in a torrential firestorm and Auralia has been transformed and taken by the mysterious Northchildren. In the wake of the destruction King Calraven tries to hold together the refugee survivors of his once great house, Auralia's young friend, ale boy, now impervious to flame, roams the land saving people from the ruins and from Cent Regus beastmen seeking to plunder the remains. Meanwhile, the heiress, Cyndere, has lost her husband to the beastmen as he sought to find survivors in Abascars ruins and she hopes to fulfill their dream of freeing the brutish beastmen from the Cent Regus curse of the Essence.
Mr. Overstreet has not lost his flare for dramatic prose. It is quite lyrical at times and while some complain of the broken conventions of writing, I say, rules were made to be broken--at least if it produces an interesting product. On the upbeat, Cyndere's midnight seems more focused than its predecessor and Overstreet being a Christian novelist we can begin to find the allegory that may be lurking beneath the obvious. Personally, I'm glad to see that element coming out...at least I believe I'm seeing it :)
On the downbeat, Cyndere's midnight suffers a bit from the lack of Auralia. And while I understand the progression of the plot, she was a very interesting character. Still Cyndere begins to become endearing, though I have to say, my personal favorites here are the ale boy and the beastman, Jordam. The beastmen are great characters and add the action element here. Unfortunately the novel doesn't MOVE swiftly, but for the patient reader, you'll find an enjoyable sequel.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
CHRONICLES OF SOONE:RISE OF LUCIN AVAILABLE!
HEY FOLKS, I wanted to let you know that The Chronicles of Soone: Rise of Lucin is now available in two formats!
Lucin, the Fallen One, is victorious on planet Castai and the reign of the king has ended in a savage coup. The final days of mankind's hope are fading with the rise of a sinister foe.
THE MIGHTY FALL
King Tiet Soone and a small band of warriors have barely escaped planet Castai with their lives. No place is safe for them with Lucin on the hunt.
A FINAL PROPHECY
A mysterious prophet has come to direct the king towards his destiny—a second confrontation with Lucin and his army of assimilated humans. But with the reconciliation of Lucin's Mithrial brethren, the Agonotti, the odds for success are worse than ever. Outnumbered and outmatched, the king must risk all he has left or witness the end of mankind.
This sequel to COS:Heir to the King has tons of action and a lot of plot twists...I don't want to give it away, but a major character meets his demise in this one! Thanks to Jeremy Robinson for another great cover!
Monday, January 26, 2009
NEW "BIBLE-SMART" STUDY BLOG LAUNCHED!
Please take a look at my new Bible-Smart blog!! This is "a bible study for the average joe" in hopes of making God's Word more accessible and understandable--check it out and leave comments and questions at will.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
ANOTHER DAY IN HISTORY
WEll, we stand upon the making of history today with our first Black President. Some people are mad, some sad, some worrying themselves to death over what this all portends for Christians. I for one am not the least bit worried.
I know some may think our next president is the anti-christ or something or the kind, but biblically I'm sure that isn't the case. That person will ride into history after the Christ removes the church (according to the order given in Revelation).
I'm reminded that God has not lost control of the world for even a moment and the same goes for today. The next administration should be an interesting one to be sure, but God is still in control. WE are a day closer to the coming of the Lord Jesus today-the same could be said for yesterday, and the day before that.
Beyond everything happening in the world, I'm confident that no matter my personal circumstances, God is firmly in control. I'm saved by his gracious sacrifice for my sins and no one can take away Eternal Life granted unto me through faith in Jesus Christ. I'm glad God elected/ chose to accept everyone who would believe on His son and glad that God convinced me to receive him as my personal savior and become a part of that elect group.
Everything is right with the world...God's plan and purpose is right on schedule...and believers must simply strive to do the work we are left here to do--proclaim salvation through God's son, his sacrifice for the cleansing of sin, his resurrection for our justification and his soon coming again!NOthing in the world can stop God's purposes...that allows me peace which passes all understanding!
Monday, November 17, 2008
SHADE by John B. Olson
Christy Award–winner for Oxygen, Olson, a biochemist-turned-novelist, keeps pace with a page-turning thriller that will please fans of paranormal spiritual battle tales. In a goth-vampire–infused mind-bending race through the streets and underworld of San Francisco, Hailey Maniates discovers a deeper diagnosis than paranoid schizophrenia for her hallucinations. One man wants her as bait in a cosmic duel, and another—Melchi, the child of prophecy—wants to save her life. With the help of her graduate school friends and Melchi, Hailey turns from victim to fellow soldier with Melchi in the battle against the evil Mulo, the spirits of the dead who act like vampires. With breathless pacing, a sharp sense of suspense, memorable descriptions and a churning plot, this novel is a must-read for those who enjoy such authors as Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti. Readers will appreciate carefully woven themes from Dracula, science, faith, conspiracy theory and divine battle. Christian themes surface in the supernatural warfare, and a Christian character, Susan Boggs, helps Hailey see beyond the physical world to a deeper reality.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
SHOUT OUT TO JEREMY ROBINSON!
I'd like to take a moment to send out a special SHOUT OUT to a good long distance friend, Mr. Jeremy Robinson!! In case you aren't familiar with Jeremy Robinson, he's a self made success in the publishing world and on the rise. Jeremy began his publishing career as a print-on-demand self published author utilizing LULU.COM to bring us "The Didymus Contingency." This exciting time travel thriller gained him a large fan base and the endorsement of bestselling thriller novelist, James Rollins, who consequently has endorsed Jeremy's work ever since. Following on his self published success with his first novel, Jeremy took on the task of starting his own publishing company, Breakneck Books. Jeremy put his graphic arts talent to use along with a great deal of marketing savvy and brought us his next novel, "Raising the Past," along with a gaggle of new authors like myself, (Thanks Jeremy!)
Breakneck began to see some measured success, particularly through Jeremy's broadening fan base, the release of "Antarktos Rising" and ultimately his book deal with Thomas Dunne Books. Around the same time, Breakneck Books came to merge with Variance Publishing and has seen some bestselling authors climb onboard with their latest upcoming novels.
In addition to Jeremy's new three book deal for Thomas Dunne is his continued novel releases at Variance Publishing including a re-release of "Antarktos Rising" into trade paperback. This will mark Jeremy's first official release into the realm of brick and mortar bookstores, though many more are soon to come! And if that wasn't enough, "Antarktos Rising" has been acquired by a Japanese Animation company to produce the Anime version in 2010 with a big budget! NOT BAD FOR A SELF PUBLISHED AUTHOR!
WE GIVE PROPS WHERE THEY ARE DUE AND HIS TIME HAS ARRIVED--CHECK OUT THE OCTOBER 22nd RELEASE OF "ANTARKTOS RISING" IN YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE AND SEE WHAT THE HYPE IS ALL ABOUT!
Monday, October 20, 2008
BEYOND THE REFLECTIONS EDGE
Bryan Davis' BEYOND THE REFLECTION'S EDGE is another well written, intriguing story to add to the expanding Christian Fiction universe. I've always been impressed by Mr. Davis' exacting prose. He's a master writer! The story involves multiplied dimensions where timelines and events are out of sync with one another. Alternate selves come and go between creating havoc and all is moving to a potential destruction of reality. What more could you ask for in great fiction?
Here's what others are saying about the novel as well :)
Bryan Davis has outdone himself again! I have been hooked on his stories since Raising Dragons and Eye of the Oracle and I thought he couldn't possibly create another work as good as these. The thrilling, mind-bending plot in Beyond the Reflection's Edge captivated me, proving me wrong, while at the same time the witty, lovable characters captured my heart. I loved this book and I can't wait to see what Bryan Davis comes up with next!
What do you get when you have interdimensional mirrors, violins that speak, and a 'broken' camera? Why, Bryan Davis' new fantasy novel of course! When Nathan Shepherd's parents are murdered during a concert, Nathan and his tutor Clara, must run for their lives before the killers find them too. With mysterious happenings behind every corner, Nathan, and his new friend Kelly, must solve the mysteries which cross multiple dimensions, before time runs out, and they are all destroyed. I was worried that after reading Davis' Dragons in our Midst and Oracles of Fire series, nothing would be able to live up to the story and characters which brought those books to life. I am pleased to say that my worries were far, far, far, from being valid. Beyond the Reflection's Edge brings some wonderful characters who are realistic and touching, as well as unique, and easy to relate to. It is, in a word, a masterpiece. The storyline is mind bending, spell binding, and heart wrenching, all at the same time. The spiritual themes are ever present, but not overbearing, and leave you with things to ponder long after the last page is turned. The story is captivating from beginning to end, and left me hungry for more. All I can say is, well done Mr. Davis! Your books are quickly becoming my standard for excellence in the Christian fantasy genre!
Monday, September 22, 2008
MARCHER LORD PRESS DAY 2
MARCHER LORD PRESS does it again with another enchanting addition to its ranks with "HERO, Second Class," by Mitchell Bonds.
This fantasy tale sets traditional high fantasy on its respective ear and then tickles it. I kn0w Mr. Bonds must keep Monty Python and the Holy Grail jammed into his DVD player because I've not had the pleasure of such wonderful silliness since watching the duel between Authur and The Black Knight.
Bonds is a wonderful storyteller and every bit of this romp is trod with tongue firmly in cheek. Its easy reading and fun to boot. What better way to spend a first class weekend than curled up with Hero, Second Class?
MARCHER LORD PRESS
Marcher Lord Press is set to meet some of the growing demand for Christian Speculative Fiction -- that by the way is not being met with the major publishers at the moment.
The Personifid Invasion by R. E. Bartlett takes up the story previously published by Realms Fiction's Personifid Project, also by Bartlett, and delves deeper into a world of human perfection gone horribly wrong. Similar in scope and feel to Scott Westerfields, The Uglies series, this novel series adds the dimension of wicked spirits inhabiting the new bodies people are trading up for. Becoming a Personifid, means becoming artificial but perfect. It also means you might be under demonic control. The writing is crisp and clean and will keep you turning the pages.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Broken Angel by Sigmund Brouwers
Broken Angel by Sigmund Brouwers is up this month on the Christian Sci-fi / Fantasy blog tour!
"In this addictively readable futuristic Christian dystopia, Brouwer (The Last Disciple) takes readers inside a state run by literalistic, controlling fundamentalists. There, reading is a serious crime; citizens are drugged into submission; and those who break rules are either sent to slave labor factories or stoned to death. Occasionally, a few brave souls try to escape to 'Outside.'
"At the center of this novel is Caitlyn, a disfigured but graceful and brave young woman whose father essentially orders her to make a run for it. For reasons not revealed (even to Caitlyn) until the very end, she is chased by a variety of people who want her dead or alive. While trying to escape, Caitlin meets up with two traveling companions who have their own reasons for fleeing, and she is aided by a sort of underground railroad. Its leaders believe the fundamentalist government has distorted true Christianity, so they risk everything to help people get Outside to freedom.
"The terrific pacing is surpassed only by the character development; the many supporting characters are extremely well-drawn. Brouwer adds even more suspense by regularly revealing that some of these characters are not who they appear to be."
- Publisher's Weekly
"At the center of this novel is Caitlyn, a disfigured but graceful and brave young woman whose father essentially orders her to make a run for it. For reasons not revealed (even to Caitlyn) until the very end, she is chased by a variety of people who want her dead or alive. While trying to escape, Caitlin meets up with two traveling companions who have their own reasons for fleeing, and she is aided by a sort of underground railroad. Its leaders believe the fundamentalist government has distorted true Christianity, so they risk everything to help people get Outside to freedom.
"The terrific pacing is surpassed only by the character development; the many supporting characters are extremely well-drawn. Brouwer adds even more suspense by regularly revealing that some of these characters are not who they appear to be."
- Publisher's Weekly
Monday, August 11, 2008
NEW CATALOG FOR MY PUBLISHER!
Hey folks, my publisher, Variance Publishing, has just come out with their new catalog which includes my first novel, The Chronicles of Soone: Heir to the King.
I'm stoked about the possibilities with this merger of my former publisher, Breakneck Books and Variance. They've got a starting lineup of New York Times and International bestselling authors, so they mean business!
I'm hoping to see great things and be a part of great things over here. I've got two manuscripts up for a submission at Variance, (an action thriller, "HALLOWED BE THY NAME") & (a YA fantasy, "A World Within").
Both are chock full of action and fun characters, so it depends on which one meets the current demand at Variance.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
DONITA K. PAUL'S "DRAGON LIGHT"
DONITA K. PAUL'S "DRAGON LIGHT" is a fresh and often humorous cap to her very successful Dragon keeper Chronicles. The characters are engaging, though, in true High Fantasyese, many of the names are difficult to pronounce. I had not read her previous novels, but with the aid of the glossary in the back getting up to speed with the different races and terms was not difficult.
The novel is charming, presents some new twists on dragons and wizards I found interesting (especially Ms. Paul's further explanation on her "wizards" powers in the world she's created), and even better there was a very cool villian to face in the story. I highly recommend the novel and may find myself out obtaining the earlier novels as well.
Ms. Paul is also a part of the new MOTIV8 Christian Fantasy tour and here's a bit more from that site about Ms. Paul.
The author of The Dragon Keeper Chronicles answers some of our questions. Not all. She was hard to catch between her bouts of obsessive writing.
How did you begin writing?
I began my career as a writer because my mother was tired of my singing. Now you are probably envisioning some young thing vocalizing around the house in an off-tune manner as a June Cleaver-type mom tries to prepare dinner.
Not quite.
I was 46 and the one fixing dinner.
I had been a school teacher, and Mom was used to blessed quiet while I and my two teens spent most of the day away from the house. But I got this weird infection in my leg that disabled me and ended my life as a permanent first grader.
So I was home . . . singing . . . loudly . . . usually on pitch . . . very shaky on the lyrics, but no problem. I was perfectly willing to make up my own words.
And I liked to sing the same song over and over. Kind of a mindless background to whatever I was doing.
“Tomorrow” from Annie was, and is, one of my favorites.
Sweetly my mother said to me, “If you sing “Tomorrow” one more time, there may not be a tomorrow in your future.” And I got sent to my room.
Honestly. She said, “Go to your room and write a book.” So I did, and the rest is history.
Now, why do you have spiritual truths tucked in odd places in your books?
For the same reason a baseball enthusiast says he’s “batting 1000” when he does well on a job project. For the same reason a fisherman says he “landed a big one” when he’s talking about a sale he made at work. For the same reason an astronaut says “fly me to the moon,” when he asks for benefits with his pay package. For the same reason those guys hit a line drive, catch something hook, line, and sinker, or blast-off. It is their lingo. And after being a Christian for many, many years, and before that “thinking” I was a Christian from the cradle up, I just verbalize in terms of homeruns. I mean, I verbalize in terms of how God works in my life. It would be very difficult to hide my beliefs and not let them infiltrate my stories.
What do you hope to accomplish as a writer?
I assume you don’t want a crass answer like “bigger and more frequent paychecks.” I didn’t think so. It’s very hard for me to claim noble intent. I like to tell stories. I like to reveal things that God has revealed to me. I like to make people feel better. I like to offer hope. I love truth. I especially like to comfort people with the same comfort with which God has comforted me.
So, I want to reveal God’s Truth, inspire believers, persuade non-believers to give God a chance, and entertain the multitudes. The acronym for that is RIPE. When we offer someone fruit that is ripe, it is appealing and nutritious. I’m hoping the fruit my tree bears is ripe.
What excites you about this West Coast Fantasy Fiction Tour?
ROAD TRIP!
WACKY COMPADRES!
WONDERFUL READERS!
GOD SHOWING UP AT EVERY TURN!
Sights and sounds I’ve never seen before. Scenic vistas. Long hours in a van. Strange hotel beds every evening. Restaurant food, morning, noon, and night. Maybe even communicable viruses. Who wouldn’t be excited?
8 fantasy writers from 8 different publishing houses visiting 8 cities in 8 days, motiv8ting readers to explore fantastic positive literature.
What about that statement makes you willing to face the viruses?
Two things.
First the unity of it. We’re working together without regard to the commercial aspect of who gets the biggest profit.
And what we’re working for is the second thing: Putting positive literature in front of readers, offering a delicious array of nurturing books, increasing their awareness of God, and strengthening their hold on the Truth.
I close with a true story called Grand Prize.
Thursday, June 17th, 2008, around eleven o’clock AM Mountain time, I received one of the Grand Prizes given out to writers.
The award was given at a book signing at Mardels. I had no idea God had orchestrated the presentation. I signed a book after a brief conversation with a shy and beautiful teen girl. She leaned over and whispered, “My friend and I have decided to keep our relationships pure like Kale and Bardon did in your books.” She picked up her autographed copy and skedaddled, unaware that tears had sprung to my eyes and I was hallelujahing all over the place in the privacy of spontaneous worship to our Lord.
The accolades of men are nice. An affirmation from God is GRAND PRIZE.
How did you begin writing?
I began my career as a writer because my mother was tired of my singing. Now you are probably envisioning some young thing vocalizing around the house in an off-tune manner as a June Cleaver-type mom tries to prepare dinner.
Not quite.
I was 46 and the one fixing dinner.
I had been a school teacher, and Mom was used to blessed quiet while I and my two teens spent most of the day away from the house. But I got this weird infection in my leg that disabled me and ended my life as a permanent first grader.
So I was home . . . singing . . . loudly . . . usually on pitch . . . very shaky on the lyrics, but no problem. I was perfectly willing to make up my own words.
And I liked to sing the same song over and over. Kind of a mindless background to whatever I was doing.
“Tomorrow” from Annie was, and is, one of my favorites.
Sweetly my mother said to me, “If you sing “Tomorrow” one more time, there may not be a tomorrow in your future.” And I got sent to my room.
Honestly. She said, “Go to your room and write a book.” So I did, and the rest is history.
Now, why do you have spiritual truths tucked in odd places in your books?
For the same reason a baseball enthusiast says he’s “batting 1000” when he does well on a job project. For the same reason a fisherman says he “landed a big one” when he’s talking about a sale he made at work. For the same reason an astronaut says “fly me to the moon,” when he asks for benefits with his pay package. For the same reason those guys hit a line drive, catch something hook, line, and sinker, or blast-off. It is their lingo. And after being a Christian for many, many years, and before that “thinking” I was a Christian from the cradle up, I just verbalize in terms of homeruns. I mean, I verbalize in terms of how God works in my life. It would be very difficult to hide my beliefs and not let them infiltrate my stories.
What do you hope to accomplish as a writer?
I assume you don’t want a crass answer like “bigger and more frequent paychecks.” I didn’t think so. It’s very hard for me to claim noble intent. I like to tell stories. I like to reveal things that God has revealed to me. I like to make people feel better. I like to offer hope. I love truth. I especially like to comfort people with the same comfort with which God has comforted me.
So, I want to reveal God’s Truth, inspire believers, persuade non-believers to give God a chance, and entertain the multitudes. The acronym for that is RIPE. When we offer someone fruit that is ripe, it is appealing and nutritious. I’m hoping the fruit my tree bears is ripe.
What excites you about this West Coast Fantasy Fiction Tour?
ROAD TRIP!
WACKY COMPADRES!
WONDERFUL READERS!
GOD SHOWING UP AT EVERY TURN!
Sights and sounds I’ve never seen before. Scenic vistas. Long hours in a van. Strange hotel beds every evening. Restaurant food, morning, noon, and night. Maybe even communicable viruses. Who wouldn’t be excited?
8 fantasy writers from 8 different publishing houses visiting 8 cities in 8 days, motiv8ting readers to explore fantastic positive literature.
What about that statement makes you willing to face the viruses?
Two things.
First the unity of it. We’re working together without regard to the commercial aspect of who gets the biggest profit.
And what we’re working for is the second thing: Putting positive literature in front of readers, offering a delicious array of nurturing books, increasing their awareness of God, and strengthening their hold on the Truth.
I close with a true story called Grand Prize.
Thursday, June 17th, 2008, around eleven o’clock AM Mountain time, I received one of the Grand Prizes given out to writers.
The award was given at a book signing at Mardels. I had no idea God had orchestrated the presentation. I signed a book after a brief conversation with a shy and beautiful teen girl. She leaned over and whispered, “My friend and I have decided to keep our relationships pure like Kale and Bardon did in your books.” She picked up her autographed copy and skedaddled, unaware that tears had sprung to my eyes and I was hallelujahing all over the place in the privacy of spontaneous worship to our Lord.
The accolades of men are nice. An affirmation from God is GRAND PRIZE.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Hey folks...In recent news:
The Chronicles of Soone will be available around fall in bookstores from my publisher, Variance Publishing. If the book does well in this reprint then the entire series may be picked up for mass market editions :) I'm hopeful of course.
Also, I've been working to prepare the Ethan Hawk and the Realm Shift manuscript for the International Christian Retail Show coming up in July--my agent will be presenting the manuscript to publishers there :) once again I'm hopeful!
I've been doing work on the second Ethan Hawk manuscript and also doing revisions to my older "A World Within" epic fantasy...this one hasn't been taken out to the gate yet...maybe one of these days :)
we'll see what happens!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
SOME VERY GOOD NEWS!
Hey everyone--
I have some great news to share...my current publisher, Breakneck Books, is merging with Variance LLC Publishing. Breakneck will become the paperback division while Variance will do Hardbacks. My friend bestselling author, Jeremy Robinson, will be re-releasing his books Antarktos Rising and The Didymus Contingency as hardbacks through variance...and kudos to Jeremy for a recent three book deal with St. Martin's Press!
What does this merger mean for myself...well my novel, The Chronicles of Soone: Heir to the King will be re-published as a mass market paperback with a small print run allowing it to be marketed and distributed to Brick and Mortar bookstores nationwide, instead of merely being available on Amazon.com and other online bookstores.
My hope is to also submit my revised version of Chronicles for the mass market paperback as many grammatical errors remained in the first version...please pray for me on that!
Also, my publisher has given me license to begin a serialized version of Chronicles of Soone in PODCAST form...which should soon be available in weekly episodes on podiobooks.com!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson. Playwright Peterson (Behold the Lamb of God) spins a whimsical fantasy novel that will appeal to both adult and YA readers. When the three Igiby siblings find a mysterious map, they embark on an adventure to discover family secrets about the father they never knew and a hidden treasure that many have long desired to find. Leeli, the youngest, can sing with a beauty that captivates dragons; Tink, the middle sibling, has the makings of a king; and Janner, the eldest, possesses a bravery that will protect them all. But the children's curiosity get the entire Igiby family into trouble with the Fangs of Dang—frightening, scaly-skinned, lizard creatures that drip venom—who have ruled the land of Scree since the Great War. Soon, the Igibys are scrambling for their lives. Peterson's style is lighthearted and funny, but following the Igibys' story requires patience and attention to detail and character so as not to get lost. The sheer amount of names, places, creatures and history Peterson invents will frustrate some readers—it is so complicated that he inserts explanatory historical footnotes throughout (though many are amusing).
“So good–smart, funny, as full of ideas as action.”–Jonathan Rogers, author of The Wilderking Trilogy
“A wildly imaginative, wonderfully irreverent epic that shines with wit and wisdom–and features excellent instructions on how to cope with Thwaps, Fangs, and the occasional Toothy Cow.”–Allan Heinberg, writer/co-executive producer of ABC’s Grey's Anatomy, and co-creator of Marvel Comics Young Avengers
“Sometimes, in order to find out who we were supposed to be, we need to get lost in other worlds: Oz, Camelot, Narnia. In On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, Andrew Peterson provides new and needed places like Aerwiar, Skree, and Glipwood–places where we need to get lost and found.”–Michael Card, author of The Hidden Face of God and The Parable of Joy, and singer/songwriter of more than thirty albums
“Totally fun! Andrew Peterson, a natural storyteller in the oral tradition, has nailed the voice needed to translate a rip-roaring fantasy tale to the written page.”–Donita K. Paul, author of DragonSpell, DragonKnight, DragonQuest, and DragonFire
Friday, February 22, 2008
Ethan Hawk Leaping Over Hurdles
Update: "Ethan Hawk and the Realm Shift," as survived its first scrutiny at a major publisher. The Editor's "reader" liked the sample chapters and book proposal and the editor has requested more to submit to the "sales board." There is still plenty of competition, as fantasy manuscripts are plentiful, but I take it as good news...so far :)
In the meantime, I'm busy pecking away at the second novel of the "Book of the Prophets" series: Ethan Hawk and the Order of Shaddai.
I always wonder when going from one novel to the next in the series, if I'll be able to maintain the level of intensity and action in the story without having to rehash what I've done before. So far, so good. EH and the Realm Shift is action packed and the second is managing to write itself out in the same fashion. This has to be one of my favorite series to write so far and I certainly hope the Lord will grant my petition to be able to share it in print :)
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Chris WAlley, The Shadow of Night
Chris Walley "The Shadow of Night"---In the spirit of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lamb among the Stars series weaves the worlds of science and the spirit, technology and supernatural into something unique and haunting. On the faraway planet of Farholme, humans live in peace under the gentle rule of the Assembly. War and evil are ancient history. But suddenly, almost imperceptibly, things begin to change. Slowly a handful of men and women begin to realize that evil has returned and it must be fought. From the Inside Flap
Imagine a future that todays generation can only dream of. A trillion people live under the gentle rule of the Assembly on over a thousand Made Worlds. Peace and stability have reigned for nearly twelve thousand years, and war and evil are merely ancient history. But all that is about to change.
On Farholmea Made World at the edge of the Assemblystrange and troubling things are happening. Slowly, incredulously, a handful of men and women come to recognize the unthinkable: Evil has returned once more, and it must be fought. Forester Merral DAvanos and his friends are entrusted with the daunting task of confronting their worlds elusive enemy.
Now isolated from the rest of the Assembly, Farholme must fight its battles alone. It falls to Merral to lead the untried forces of Farholme into war against opponents well-hidden and armed with strange powers. Yet even as he faces extraordinary and terrifying foes, Merral finds he has an unexpected enemyhimself.
Imagine a future that todays generation can only dream of. A trillion people live under the gentle rule of the Assembly on over a thousand Made Worlds. Peace and stability have reigned for nearly twelve thousand years, and war and evil are merely ancient history. But all that is about to change.
On Farholmea Made World at the edge of the Assemblystrange and troubling things are happening. Slowly, incredulously, a handful of men and women come to recognize the unthinkable: Evil has returned once more, and it must be fought. Forester Merral DAvanos and his friends are entrusted with the daunting task of confronting their worlds elusive enemy.
Now isolated from the rest of the Assembly, Farholme must fight its battles alone. It falls to Merral to lead the untried forces of Farholme into war against opponents well-hidden and armed with strange powers. Yet even as he faces extraordinary and terrifying foes, Merral finds he has an unexpected enemyhimself.
What people are saying:
When I watch the news I sometimes wonder what it would be like to live in a world where evil didn't exist. What if we didn't need an army, or police, or weapons? Where no one lied, everyone could be trusted, and envy was unheard of? Well, that's the way it was in Farholme, a Made World, copied from Ancient earth, until Merral Stefan D'Avanos saw what he thought was a meteor streaking against the night sky. Suddenly, the peaceful world of Farholme began to change. At first he barely noticed the changes. There were just hints that something was wrong; a deception, a vision, a show of fear. Then Vero, a Sentinel from Ancient Earth showed up to check out what was going on. As Vero and Merral began the investigation, they became embroiled in a desperate battle agains the powers of evil. At first they didn't understand what was happening to Farholme, but both men believed in God and they were willing to follow wherever He led them. Chris Walley has created a world so vivid it seems almost real. This is a fascinating story of the battle between good and evil with a different twist. Full of action and suspense and engaging characters, it pulled me into the story from page one.
I just finished reading the two books that actually make up this single hardcover - Shadow At Evening and Power of the Night (accidentally rebought this book thinking it was a sequel - it's not). My 13 year old son recommended the books to me and I was extremely impressed with the quality of the story and the way that Chris Walley knits together a compelling sci-fi story with a Christian point of view. As a long time sci-fi/fantasy reader, I didn't think it was really possible for it to be done in a believable way, but he does it. His main character's evolution as he comes into contact with evil is a challenge for all believers! A must-read!
Monday, February 11, 2008
ETHAN HAWK GETS HIS DAY!
This picture really reminds me of one of the main villians--had to post it!Hello All--Just an update: My agent, Gregg Wooding and I are working to prepare a Book Proposal to be presented to publishers in upcoming months. The final touch will be several reviews of the novel by four of Christian Fantasy's finest authors and one Youth Pastor in my area.
I'll not name the authors -- if it gets published I'm sure you'll see them on the cover! -- but I just want to say publicly, if you read this guys -- You're the best for taking time out of your busy schedules to review "Ethan Hawk and the Realm Shift."
So, we're geared up and gung-ho, praying hard and hoping for the best as Ethan Hawk and the Realm Shift begins the journey through the gauntlet that is the publishing industry.
For anyone interested, I have sound bytes over on my MYSPACE page where you can listen to a select chapter of Ethan Hawk and the Realm Shift including some pretty cool intro music!
Friday, December 21, 2007
Auralia's Colors by Jeffrey Overstreet
Jeffrey Overstreet's "AURALIA'S COLORS" is a delightful fantasy novel where four great Houses have forgotten their distant past and connection to one another. In particular, House Abascar has banished color from their daily lives at the behest of a jealous queen. The lives of the people have lost all joy, celebration, meaning. The Wintering of House Abascar threatens to bring down the kingdom itself.
Then a mysterious, young orphan girl begins to harness the colors of the Expanse into wonderous gifts which have a power all their own. Auralia's Colors may be the salvation of this House or its very undoing!
I thoroughly enjoyed "Auralia's Colors." Overstreet's prose is as lyrical as poetry. There are some unconventional literary things going on, but unless you are a literary pharisee, it's nothing that should detract from the story. I would highly recommend the novel, but there is a question that arises for me having read it and one I would love to have discussion over.
"Where is the Christianity in Auralia's Colors?"
I've honestly searched for the allegory, the veiled references to faith, redemption, Christ, God, even the basic good versus evil, and I've not found them. This prompts me to wondering: does Christian Fiction need to be Christian? I'd love opinions on it!
In the meantime, get Auralia's Colors for yourself, it's a wonderful story!
Monday, December 17, 2007
ETHAN HAWK Audio segments on MYSPACE!
Hey guys, I've got three ETHAN HAWK audio segments loaded up on my author page at MYSPACE. click the link to check it out and please leave comments, add me as a friend and so forth. There are also a few audio files for A WORLD WITHIN as well, if you're interested!
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Ethan Hawk is proofed and sent!
Hey guys, my latest novel manuscript (#5), Ethan Hawk and the Realm Shift, has been proofed and sent to my agent Gregg Wooding. This is a big relief, but leaves me waiting now to see if any of the queried publishers are going to respond positively. I've always got more writing work to take on, so I'll just stay busy with it and pray!
This picture from the web reminded me of the main villian in Ethan Hawk - a Nephilim conqueror named Mordred who is sometimes indwelt by a demon named Jericho.
Out of four series I've started so far, this one may be my favorite...but when you put so much into a novel it's really hard to pick favorites!
Monday, November 19, 2007
SCARLET BY STEPHEN LAWHEAD
SCARLET by Stephen Lawhead--After losing everything he owns, forester Will Scarlet embarks on a search for none other than King Raven, whose exploits have already become legendary. After fulfilling his quest--and proving himself a skilled and loyal companion--Will joins the heroic archer and his men.
Now, however, Will is in prison for a crime he did not commit. His sentence is death by hanging--unless he delivers King Raven and his band of cohorts.
That, of course, he will never do.
Wales is slowly falling under the control of the invading Normans, and King William the Red has given his ruthless barons control of the land. In desperation, the people turn to King Raven and his men for justice and survival in the face of the ever-growing onslaught.
From deep in the forest they form a daring plan for deliverance, knowing that failure means death for them all.
Scarlet continues Stephen R. Lawhead's riveting saga that began with the novel Hood, which relocated the legend of Robin Hood to the Welsh countryside and its dark forests. Steeped in Celtic mythology and the political intrigue of medival Britain, Lawhead's trilogy conjures up an ancient past and holds a mirror to contemporary realities. Prepare for an epic tale that dares to shatter everything you thought you knew about Robin Hood.
Now, however, Will is in prison for a crime he did not commit. His sentence is death by hanging--unless he delivers King Raven and his band of cohorts.
That, of course, he will never do.
Wales is slowly falling under the control of the invading Normans, and King William the Red has given his ruthless barons control of the land. In desperation, the people turn to King Raven and his men for justice and survival in the face of the ever-growing onslaught.
From deep in the forest they form a daring plan for deliverance, knowing that failure means death for them all.
Scarlet continues Stephen R. Lawhead's riveting saga that began with the novel Hood, which relocated the legend of Robin Hood to the Welsh countryside and its dark forests. Steeped in Celtic mythology and the political intrigue of medival Britain, Lawhead's trilogy conjures up an ancient past and holds a mirror to contemporary realities. Prepare for an epic tale that dares to shatter everything you thought you knew about Robin Hood.
What's being said by fans--"When I read HOOD I have to admit that I began it fully expecting to take in the story with a grain of salt. I was pleasantly surprised that Lawhead could re-imagine the story of Robin Hood and convey his image in a manner that captured me in the first chapter. SCARLET is a sequel that does not disappoint. The character development was flawless and I could feel myself emphasizing with Will "Scarlet" Scatlocke and at least relating with the Sheriff (but not quite empathizing). The thing I found greatest about this book was that while it's still a story about Robin Hood, it is mostly related as narrative by Will Scatlocke and Will plays as the central character. Both HOOD and SCARLET are great novels for those interested in a more grown-up version of the story of Robin Hood as well as those that enjoy historical fiction (although I cannot vouch for how historically accurate/inaccurate the books are). They are reminiscent of Mary Stewart's MERLIN TRILOGY in that both relates fantastic tales of seemingly far-fetched accounts that may or may not have occurred in a manner that is, at the least, believable if nothing else. These KING RAVEN novels are the first novels I've read by Stephen R. Lawhead so I'm not giving my review based from the standpoint of someone who loves all things Lawhead. Having said, if TUCK is as great as the first two novels in this series, I may become a Lawhead fan after all."
Friday, November 09, 2007
Ethan Hawk Going Fishing!
Hello all! My new manuscript for Ethan Hawk and the Realm Shift is going fishing in the publishing industry that is...guess what, already have seen some interest!
A query has been sent to one Christian publisher and the editor has already requested the Book Proposal and sample chapters!!
That's a very good start....Personally, I'm very excited about the potential for this series. The series is outlined for four books, but there is excellent potential for more the way the story is set up. If I'm anything in this game, it's persistent! And I'm continuing to forge ahead in hopes of publication for my novels.
This just in...Rise of Lucin is not dead in the water yet...One publisher is still holding onto the manuscript pending a decision. And my agent is still working for the manuscript as well.
UPDATED: "Ethan Hawk and the Realm Shift" has been completed in a personal record of 1.5 months! I owe that to previous chapter outlining for the whole four book series. It allowed me to ZOOOOM! Admittedly I added some chapters and made minor changes when the story called for it, but overall I did not have to deviate from the original ideas. The queries are going out to a number or publishers, so...In the end, the Lord's will be done!
Friday, October 26, 2007
FLASHPOINT by Frank Creed
FLASHPOINT by Frank Creed may just be one of the freshest pieces of Christian Fiction to come along in years. I've personally never read a christian novel quite like it. Frank Creed pushes the reader into a cyber-punk future where some Christians are become hyper enhanced warriors called Sandmen (anyone remember Logan's Run?) and Frank has included plenty of ultra-cool technology to help out in the fight against the One World Government which has seized control of the world. One of the coolest aspects of the many awesome fight scenes between sandmen and their foes is the way Mr. Creed takes the reader right into the action in "Bullet-Time" to catch every cool move as it happens. And if you're looking for family friendly, all of the "Kill'n" is done with tranquilizers by the Christians. "Thou shalt not Kill" is still in effect here for these high tech, mindware enhanced believers, but they still mean business. This short novel is full of "ultra-fresh" sci-fi ideas and its protags are two teens who are bent on rescuing their parents and their church. If you loved the Matrix, Terminator, or the like then you'll find "Flashpoint" to be fresh and fun reading from cover to cover and it leaves you wanting the next installment!--James Somers: Author "The Chronicles of Soone."
I've also had the opportunity to interview Mr. Creed:
1.) What was your inspiration for Flashpoint and this series?
This has to do with my whole life. During the Iran Hostage Crisis, I heard TV reporters using the term "fundamentalist terrorist" without regard. I'd been taught in Sunday-school that those who believed in the Bible were Fundamentalists. That bothered me and it was the planted seed.
Shortly before being saved in the early 1990s, I read a copy of Hal Lindsey's, Late Great Planet Earth.
I always wanted to write fiction, but as a fan of science fiction, and with my new fascination in eschatology, everything clicked. Christ coming in the near future? Cyberpunk (near-future dystopian high-tech sci-fi), was the perfect genre.
I did learn soon that obsession with the end Times was not very useful. The Gospel is all about love, and new believers are easily distracted.
This has to do with my whole life. During the Iran Hostage Crisis, I heard TV reporters using the term "fundamentalist terrorist" without regard. I'd been taught in Sunday-school that those who believed in the Bible were Fundamentalists. That bothered me and it was the planted seed.
Shortly before being saved in the early 1990s, I read a copy of Hal Lindsey's, Late Great Planet Earth.
I always wanted to write fiction, but as a fan of science fiction, and with my new fascination in eschatology, everything clicked. Christ coming in the near future? Cyberpunk (near-future dystopian high-tech sci-fi), was the perfect genre.
I did learn soon that obsession with the end Times was not very useful. The Gospel is all about love, and new believers are easily distracted.
2.) You are obviously a big action fan. What influences the way you write an action scene?
Congratulations on asking the hardest question I've ever had to answer in an interview. (No problem,) My short answer is life. And I mean all of it, highs and lows. Pack it all into 60k words. What don't kill ya' makes you stronger. Yeah that's a cliche, but when you can pack all that pain into so little space--that's action. Blow by blow.
If one wants to learn how to write a tight action scene, check the Cyberpunk series called Shadowrun. Thanks to Kevin Lucia's Titletrack, I discovered Mel Odom's Website and I got to nag him one night to write another of my top three favorite cyberpunk novels. Run Fast, Die Hard is a classic. Argent, his main character rocks. One of my top ten novelists replied by next morning. I Smiled.
Cyberpunk is all about action:
Top novels Wolf and Raven, Run Hard Die Fast, Striper Assassin, by Michael Stackpole, Mel Odom, and Nyx Smith.
Top Films: The Matrix, Blade Runner (genre debateable--sue me), Johnny Nemonic.
Sci-fi aside? Die Hard, Raiders, and Bourne--all-that. My big complaint about action films, if bullets miss there has to be a reason why.
Congratulations on asking the hardest question I've ever had to answer in an interview. (No problem,) My short answer is life. And I mean all of it, highs and lows. Pack it all into 60k words. What don't kill ya' makes you stronger. Yeah that's a cliche, but when you can pack all that pain into so little space--that's action. Blow by blow.
If one wants to learn how to write a tight action scene, check the Cyberpunk series called Shadowrun. Thanks to Kevin Lucia's Titletrack, I discovered Mel Odom's Website and I got to nag him one night to write another of my top three favorite cyberpunk novels. Run Fast, Die Hard is a classic. Argent, his main character rocks. One of my top ten novelists replied by next morning. I Smiled.
Cyberpunk is all about action:
Top novels Wolf and Raven, Run Hard Die Fast, Striper Assassin, by Michael Stackpole, Mel Odom, and Nyx Smith.
Top Films: The Matrix, Blade Runner (genre debateable--sue me), Johnny Nemonic.
Sci-fi aside? Die Hard, Raiders, and Bourne--all-that. My big complaint about action films, if bullets miss there has to be a reason why.
3.) Would you say that, as a writer, you have been more influenced by movies or other books? And what are your favorites?
Both--but there's another fiction source--gaming. Tabletop dice-rolling role-playing games and first-person-shooter computer games have shaped a big part of my fiction. Props to TSR (now Wizards of the Coast), and ID Software. Gaming fires imagination. For purposes of evangelism and discipleship, look for Flashpoint the Role Playing Game in 08.
All-time favorite movies: The Matrix, Schindler's List, Monty Python and the holy Grail.
All-time favorite authors: George Orwell, CS Lewis, and ML Tyndall.
4.) Are you a disciplined writer or seat of your pants? Do you outline everything first or allow the mood to strike?
Beginning and end. I do write out a rough outline before I begin a fiction project.
But from my creative approach, a story must tell itself. I detail the outline as I go.
When it comes to fiction there is no moral absolute. There is no proper way. We're all created in the image of the Creator, so we fallen-scribes have that going for us. I cannot believe a number of creative methodologies through which successful authors approach.
5.) What can we expect in the future from Frank Creed as a writer and this series?
War of Attrition: Book Two of the Underground: the Unholy Trinity, trauma-action, and a surprise at the end--stand alone novels only in this series. Necessary background data included.
In coming months, Frank Creed the writer will be offering manusript evaluation services
6.) How did you come to be published with the Writer's Cafe Press?
Here comes the big secret. Marry a schoolteacher. I met my wife online, on May 9, 2003. Cynthia edited many things for local schools and education organizations, and offered to edit Flashpoint.
We wound-up marrying. Because it took her two years to get her Green Card, the only thing we could think of for her to make income was her editing skill. She started a business called the Writer's Café. After years of editing and networking, she learned that the Web and trend for corporate outsourcing had changed the publishing industry forever. A small independent press could now do everything that the traditional houses had been doing for decades.
When she told me she wanted to publish Flashpoint, it was very exciting, but that excitement was tempered by an amateur feeling. Face it, being published by your wife is a short step away from being published by your mom. I gained confidence quickly as she published a fantasy anthology (Tales for the Thrifty Barbarian), and A Child Underground, the memoirs of a Holocaust survivor. By the time the Biblical speculative fiction Anthology, Light at the Edge of Darkness, was compiled in August of 06, my confidence was complete.
I may be sleeping with my publisher, but our business relationship is completely professional. She respects me as an artist, and I get the same kind of deadlines, contracts, and expectations as everyone else she publishes. We work well as a team and I expect this to be a huge advantage as together we live the crazy-paced lifestyle. Book signings are also desperately needed weekends away.
Just as everything else in my life goes into my books, how God gave me a gift like Cynthia, is absolutely unreal. In conclusion: marry a schoolteacher! TWCP is currently booked through Dec of 2008.
All-time favorite movies: The Matrix, Schindler's List, Monty Python and the holy Grail.
All-time favorite authors: George Orwell, CS Lewis, and ML Tyndall.
4.) Are you a disciplined writer or seat of your pants? Do you outline everything first or allow the mood to strike?
Beginning and end. I do write out a rough outline before I begin a fiction project.
But from my creative approach, a story must tell itself. I detail the outline as I go.
When it comes to fiction there is no moral absolute. There is no proper way. We're all created in the image of the Creator, so we fallen-scribes have that going for us. I cannot believe a number of creative methodologies through which successful authors approach.
5.) What can we expect in the future from Frank Creed as a writer and this series?
War of Attrition: Book Two of the Underground: the Unholy Trinity, trauma-action, and a surprise at the end--stand alone novels only in this series. Necessary background data included.
In coming months, Frank Creed the writer will be offering manusript evaluation services
6.) How did you come to be published with the Writer's Cafe Press?
Here comes the big secret. Marry a schoolteacher. I met my wife online, on May 9, 2003. Cynthia edited many things for local schools and education organizations, and offered to edit Flashpoint.
We wound-up marrying. Because it took her two years to get her Green Card, the only thing we could think of for her to make income was her editing skill. She started a business called the Writer's Café. After years of editing and networking, she learned that the Web and trend for corporate outsourcing had changed the publishing industry forever. A small independent press could now do everything that the traditional houses had been doing for decades.
When she told me she wanted to publish Flashpoint, it was very exciting, but that excitement was tempered by an amateur feeling. Face it, being published by your wife is a short step away from being published by your mom. I gained confidence quickly as she published a fantasy anthology (Tales for the Thrifty Barbarian), and A Child Underground, the memoirs of a Holocaust survivor. By the time the Biblical speculative fiction Anthology, Light at the Edge of Darkness, was compiled in August of 06, my confidence was complete.
I may be sleeping with my publisher, but our business relationship is completely professional. She respects me as an artist, and I get the same kind of deadlines, contracts, and expectations as everyone else she publishes. We work well as a team and I expect this to be a huge advantage as together we live the crazy-paced lifestyle. Book signings are also desperately needed weekends away.
Just as everything else in my life goes into my books, how God gave me a gift like Cynthia, is absolutely unreal. In conclusion: marry a schoolteacher! TWCP is currently booked through Dec of 2008.
Thanks for taking the time, Mr. Creed and I hope all goes well with your exciting new Christian Action series.
To be interviewed by the Chronicles of Soone mastermind. The honor is all mine, Mr. Somers.
To God be the glory,Frank Creed--novelist & founder of the Lost Genre Guild
To be interviewed by the Chronicles of Soone mastermind. The honor is all mine, Mr. Somers.
To God be the glory,Frank Creed--novelist & founder of the Lost Genre Guild
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
THE WAY OF THE WILDERKING
Let me just say that THE WAY OF THE WILDERKING is an awesome finale for the series!! The Wilderking Trilogy has become one of my all time favorite stories period--secular or christian!
Jonathan Rogers has capped off his Wilderking Series in style with this last edition to the trilogy! I rushed out to get this book after reading The Secret of the Swamp King and I wasn't disappointed! Mr. Rogers continues to ramp up the action and it seems the only one who doesn't realize Aidan is the legendary Wilderking of prophecy is Aidan himself. But that will all change in this exciting conclusion to the series. There are exciting moments and sad ones as well. But it all comes together wonderfully and never disappoints. Dobro Turtlebane is in rare form as he leaves the swamps with Aidan and tries to mingle with civilizers for the first time...not to be missed!--James Somers, author: The Chronicles of Soone.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
THE SECRET OF THE SWAMP KING by Jonathan Rogers
THE SECRET OF THE SWAMP KING by Jonathan Rogers. I've got to hand it to MR. Rogers, he's done a wonderful job of following up on young Aidan Errolson. He's now a few years older and a member of King DArrow's court. True to the biblical parallels with David, Aidan has incurred the jealous wrath of his king. He may be the most loyal member of King Darrow's court, but Aidan is sent on a suicide mission to the Feechiefen Swamp in order to retrieve the legendary Frog Orchid. King Darrow thinks to see the end of young Aidan, but he meets up with his friend Dobro and becomes a Feechie friend to all Feechies. There's someone impersonating the legendary Wilderking out in the Feechifen and Aidan must find out who is enslaving Feechies to the civilizers ways of war and commerce. This book has more action and more intrigue to it. I loved it and read it in two days. Highly recommended!--James Somers, author: The Chronicles of Soone.
Monday, October 22, 2007
THE BARK OF THE BOG OWL by Jonathan Rogers
Bark of the Bog Owl, by Jonathan Rogers was a book I actually thought I might not have much interest in. I was given the book to review and absolutely fell in love with the engaging story, great writing and fun characters. Can a fantasy story which lacks: dragons, elves, and magic really be so good? Oooh Yeeaah! There's plenty of action for young Aidan Errolson and his Feechie friend, Dobro Turtlebane. In fact, let me say that Dobro may be one of the most fun characters I've read about in a long time. There's nothing but page-turning-fun going on in this first book of the Wilderking trilogy. I got the first for free, but I had to go get the second and third myself and read both in two days apiece! The story stands out for its lessons on faith in the One God and for the inventive parallels with the story of young David from the bible. I highly recommend the entire series--James Somers, author: The Chronicles of Soone.
AND WE HAVE AN INTERVIEW WITH JONATHAN ROGERS:
1.) Is the Bark of the Bog Owl your first novel and how long did it take you to get published?
Yes, it was my first novel. I was blessed to find a publisher very quickly. I finished Book 1--or, rather, a version of Book 1--in December of 2002, my agent started shopping it around (as Book 1 of a trilogy) shortly after the new year, and it sold in the spring. I spent part of 2003 making edits--editor Gary Terishita asked me to make the book longer by about a third--and The Bark of the Bog Owl came out in the spring of 2004. So it was a pretty whirlwind-ish process. At the time I didn't appreciate how unusual that was.
2.) Did you go through the whole submission rejection thing before finding an agent and publisher or was it a quick process for you? [this is covered in the previous answer]
3.) How did you come by the decision to make parallels with your Aidan character and King David from the Bible?
Eugene Peterson gave me a whole new way of looking at David's story. His book Leap Over a Wall demonstrates how much narrative richness there is to be mined there. Peterson has a lot to say about the "earthiness" of David's story, and that had a big impact on me...though in the end, the "earthiest" people in the book are the feechie folks, not Aidan. Peterson got me thinking about David, but I have to say, I think my story gets better the farther it strays from David's story.
4.) Feechies have to be some of the most fun characters I've read about in some time. How did you come up with Dobro Turtlebane?
One summer I worked on a construction crew with a fellow whose hobby was hunting wild hogs in the swamp--without a gun. He had some dogs that would catch the hog by the ear, and he would tie it up and carry it out of the woods on a pole. He was about as earthy a fellow as you could ever hope to meet. I filed that guy away, and ten years later when I sat down to write the Wilderking, he became Dobro Turtlebane.
5.) Most fantasy novels revolve around Dragons and Elves and stuff like that. Was there a conscious effort on your part not to include these sort of characters in your Wilderking novels, and if so, why?
Yes, I suppose you'd say I made a conscious decision not to include dragons and elves. In my very first outlines of the story, I don't think I had quite decided whether the feechiefolk would be elfish, magical creatures or just swamp people. It didn't take long for me to decide it would be more fun if the feechies were so different from "civilizers" that they just seemed magical. So feechies can disappear, but not the way an elf or a sprite disappears. They disappear the way a snake disappears. I once saw a copperhead on a leaf-strewn trail, and in the second it took me to bring it to a friend's attention, the snake just melted into the leaves. Even knowing it was there, I still couldn't see it for ten seconds or more; the camouflage was that good. That's not magic, properly speaking, but the effect was very much the same as magic.
I guess you could say I went down the path of seeing how "magical" the natural world could be, and decided that, for my purposes, it was magical enough. If you've ever been to the Okefenokee Swamp or Mammoth Cave, it's hard to picture a fantasy setting that could be more fantastic. And though I've never encountered a dragon, I suspect it would be a lot like encountering an alligator.
In he original proposal for the Wilderking, there's a swamp goblin in Book 2. My wife talked me out of it. In a world with feechiefolks and alligators, she said, what do you need with a goblin?
6.) As a writer, would you consider yourself to be very disciplined and do you outline everything prior to beginning a novel or are you a spur-of-the-moment / seat of your pants type of writer?
I always have a good idea of where a story will end before I start writing. But I give the story a lot of freedom to unfold the way it wants to unfold. I always have an outline--sometimes detailed, sometimes not--but I'm never afraid to throw out the outline. And I always expect a lot of treasures to reveal themselves after I've started writing. Here's an example: When it was time to hunker down and finish Book 3 of the trilogy, I went to my in-laws' farm in South Georgia to write. Eating supper at a restaurant, one of the locals (a man I had only met that night) sat down at my table and got to telling about a bar fight he had gotten mixed up in. Within twelve hours, a feechiefied version of that story was in the book, in the exact form it exists now. (If you've read The Way of the Wilderking, it's the scrape Aidan and Dobro get into at Ma Pearl's public house). It was never in any outline, but it's a pretty important scene in the book.
I like what Anne Lamott says about writing a book. It's like driving at night: you can't see very far ahead, but you can see far enough. You can't see around the next curve, but by the time you get there, your headlights will provide you with the illumination you need to negotiate around it.
7.) What would you say the greatest change in your writing has been since becoming published?
[blank]
8.) What key piece of advice would you give to writers who are struggling to get published in today's Christian marketplace?
Hmmm...I don't know about giving advice to hypothetical people--people whose real situation I don't know. But I do have a few general remarks on the subject of publishing.
I have a cousin who builds houses, and he tells his clients, "If you weren't happy before you got a granite countertop, you probably aren't going to be happy after you get a granite countertop." Which is to say, a big, fancy house won't make your life fulfilling. Likewise, if you weren't happy before getting a book published, you probably won't be happy after getting a book published. Don't look to the things of the world to do what they can't possibly do for you. I do think that's an important thing to keep in perspective.
On a related note, we all hope our writing will have an impact on the people who read it--I know I do. But it's helpful to remember that the people we're really going to have an impact on are the people we see every day. I say that by way of encouragement. People who are "struggling to get published in today's Christian marketplace" are going through the struggle (hopefully) because they want to make a difference in people's lives. If that's your earnest desire, you can be sure you'll have opportunity to do that, whether you get published or not. If there were some way of totalling up such things, I know I've had more influence (for good or for ill) on the people God has put in my life than on everybody who has read my books put together. I realize that we're not talking about a huge number of people who have read my books, but I suspect the same would be true for most authors.
9.) What made you decide to join up with the Christian Science Fiction & Fantasy blog tour?
[I'm afraid I don't have anything interesting to say on this topic: Rebecca Miller asked if I was interested, and I said yes--though I'm still not clear on what a blog tour is, exactly.]
10.) What are you working on now and should we be looking out for new novels from you in the near future? If so, can you give us a teaser to whet our appetites?
I have started a novel for grown-ups. It's neither science fiction nor fantasy, but a quiet book about a quiet life well-lived.
Thanks so much for doing the interview and for writing such an enjoyable series of novels. I look forward to reading what you come up with next.
Thanks for having me on your blog, James. It's been a pleasure.
Yes, it was my first novel. I was blessed to find a publisher very quickly. I finished Book 1--or, rather, a version of Book 1--in December of 2002, my agent started shopping it around (as Book 1 of a trilogy) shortly after the new year, and it sold in the spring. I spent part of 2003 making edits--editor Gary Terishita asked me to make the book longer by about a third--and The Bark of the Bog Owl came out in the spring of 2004. So it was a pretty whirlwind-ish process. At the time I didn't appreciate how unusual that was.
2.) Did you go through the whole submission rejection thing before finding an agent and publisher or was it a quick process for you? [this is covered in the previous answer]
3.) How did you come by the decision to make parallels with your Aidan character and King David from the Bible?
Eugene Peterson gave me a whole new way of looking at David's story. His book Leap Over a Wall demonstrates how much narrative richness there is to be mined there. Peterson has a lot to say about the "earthiness" of David's story, and that had a big impact on me...though in the end, the "earthiest" people in the book are the feechie folks, not Aidan. Peterson got me thinking about David, but I have to say, I think my story gets better the farther it strays from David's story.
4.) Feechies have to be some of the most fun characters I've read about in some time. How did you come up with Dobro Turtlebane?
One summer I worked on a construction crew with a fellow whose hobby was hunting wild hogs in the swamp--without a gun. He had some dogs that would catch the hog by the ear, and he would tie it up and carry it out of the woods on a pole. He was about as earthy a fellow as you could ever hope to meet. I filed that guy away, and ten years later when I sat down to write the Wilderking, he became Dobro Turtlebane.
5.) Most fantasy novels revolve around Dragons and Elves and stuff like that. Was there a conscious effort on your part not to include these sort of characters in your Wilderking novels, and if so, why?
Yes, I suppose you'd say I made a conscious decision not to include dragons and elves. In my very first outlines of the story, I don't think I had quite decided whether the feechiefolk would be elfish, magical creatures or just swamp people. It didn't take long for me to decide it would be more fun if the feechies were so different from "civilizers" that they just seemed magical. So feechies can disappear, but not the way an elf or a sprite disappears. They disappear the way a snake disappears. I once saw a copperhead on a leaf-strewn trail, and in the second it took me to bring it to a friend's attention, the snake just melted into the leaves. Even knowing it was there, I still couldn't see it for ten seconds or more; the camouflage was that good. That's not magic, properly speaking, but the effect was very much the same as magic.
I guess you could say I went down the path of seeing how "magical" the natural world could be, and decided that, for my purposes, it was magical enough. If you've ever been to the Okefenokee Swamp or Mammoth Cave, it's hard to picture a fantasy setting that could be more fantastic. And though I've never encountered a dragon, I suspect it would be a lot like encountering an alligator.
In he original proposal for the Wilderking, there's a swamp goblin in Book 2. My wife talked me out of it. In a world with feechiefolks and alligators, she said, what do you need with a goblin?
6.) As a writer, would you consider yourself to be very disciplined and do you outline everything prior to beginning a novel or are you a spur-of-the-moment / seat of your pants type of writer?
I always have a good idea of where a story will end before I start writing. But I give the story a lot of freedom to unfold the way it wants to unfold. I always have an outline--sometimes detailed, sometimes not--but I'm never afraid to throw out the outline. And I always expect a lot of treasures to reveal themselves after I've started writing. Here's an example: When it was time to hunker down and finish Book 3 of the trilogy, I went to my in-laws' farm in South Georgia to write. Eating supper at a restaurant, one of the locals (a man I had only met that night) sat down at my table and got to telling about a bar fight he had gotten mixed up in. Within twelve hours, a feechiefied version of that story was in the book, in the exact form it exists now. (If you've read The Way of the Wilderking, it's the scrape Aidan and Dobro get into at Ma Pearl's public house). It was never in any outline, but it's a pretty important scene in the book.
I like what Anne Lamott says about writing a book. It's like driving at night: you can't see very far ahead, but you can see far enough. You can't see around the next curve, but by the time you get there, your headlights will provide you with the illumination you need to negotiate around it.
7.) What would you say the greatest change in your writing has been since becoming published?
[blank]
8.) What key piece of advice would you give to writers who are struggling to get published in today's Christian marketplace?
Hmmm...I don't know about giving advice to hypothetical people--people whose real situation I don't know. But I do have a few general remarks on the subject of publishing.
I have a cousin who builds houses, and he tells his clients, "If you weren't happy before you got a granite countertop, you probably aren't going to be happy after you get a granite countertop." Which is to say, a big, fancy house won't make your life fulfilling. Likewise, if you weren't happy before getting a book published, you probably won't be happy after getting a book published. Don't look to the things of the world to do what they can't possibly do for you. I do think that's an important thing to keep in perspective.
On a related note, we all hope our writing will have an impact on the people who read it--I know I do. But it's helpful to remember that the people we're really going to have an impact on are the people we see every day. I say that by way of encouragement. People who are "struggling to get published in today's Christian marketplace" are going through the struggle (hopefully) because they want to make a difference in people's lives. If that's your earnest desire, you can be sure you'll have opportunity to do that, whether you get published or not. If there were some way of totalling up such things, I know I've had more influence (for good or for ill) on the people God has put in my life than on everybody who has read my books put together. I realize that we're not talking about a huge number of people who have read my books, but I suspect the same would be true for most authors.
9.) What made you decide to join up with the Christian Science Fiction & Fantasy blog tour?
[I'm afraid I don't have anything interesting to say on this topic: Rebecca Miller asked if I was interested, and I said yes--though I'm still not clear on what a blog tour is, exactly.]
10.) What are you working on now and should we be looking out for new novels from you in the near future? If so, can you give us a teaser to whet our appetites?
I have started a novel for grown-ups. It's neither science fiction nor fantasy, but a quiet book about a quiet life well-lived.
Thanks so much for doing the interview and for writing such an enjoyable series of novels. I look forward to reading what you come up with next.
Thanks for having me on your blog, James. It's been a pleasure.
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