The Dragons of the Valley by Donita K. Paul

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Dragons of the Valley by Donita K Paul is a continuation of her Dragons Series, young-to-young adult fantasy novels that present allegorical stories of faith and courage in the face of sometimes overwhelming opposition. Ms. Paul's novels are fun and inventive, taking place in a world completely of her own making with various higher and lower races of beings, as well as creatures galore; some familiar in concept while others are more original.

I had read Dragon Light, which I believe must be several novels back in the series and really enjoyed it, though admittedly I had a little trouble jumping in midstream in her continuing storyline--figuring out what was going on and who was who. With patience I figured out the good guys and bad guys and enjoyed the book.

Again, I found myself having to get my sea legs before I could get into the story. But that's just the way it is when you come into a series way down the line and are unfamiliar with the basic characters. The hero in Dragons of the Valley seems to have come from the Vanishing Sculptor; one or two novels back...so just understand where your starting in it before you get frustrated. Adding to that was the need to come up to speed on who the races and creatures are as well...however there is a character index in the back to help with this. As always, Donita weaves a wonderful tale that younger readers and fantasy fans will enjoy. Personally, I had some difficulty maintaining my interest, because I kept having to refer to the character index in order to stay up to speed :) I suppose if I had began Lord of the Rings at The Two Towers I would have faired no better. However, Ms. Paul's novel is full of interesting characters, intrigue and lots of action. I definitely recommend giving it a read if you enjoy fantasy with christian allegory.

What others are saying about Dragons of the Valley:

Chiril is a peaceful prosperous land. However the tranquility ends when an army invades the country. Tipper Schope must hide three statues because if the enemy gets it will mean the end of her nation as she knows it. She enlists her Bealomondore the artist to help her with her quest. He understands he must wield a sword like he did a brush.

At the same time that the terrible foe marches into Chiril, a horrific beast is stalking and killing anyone in its path. No one is safe from the predatory Grawl. Time is running out for the two heroes and their companions as they struggle to reach the Valley of the Dragons where they plan to leave the statues.

The latest inspiration dragon fantasy (see Dragonknight and Dragonquest) is a fabulous tale that, as always in a Donita K. Paul thriller, takes the audience soaring across the author's vivid mythical landscape. As chaos threatens the land, Tipper and Bealomondore are heroic figures; not because they may succeed, but due to risking their lives against overwhelming odds as for instance a peace loving artist picks up the sword. Action-packed with deadly perils from outside coming in and inside expanding out and with a strong cast especially the champions, fans will need a seat belt as this fast-paced novel never takes a respite.

Jonathan Rogers: Feechies, Feechies, and more Feechies!

In case you haven't heard of Feechies, like those featured in Jonathan Roger's latest novel, The Charlatan's Boy, I wanted to remind readers of Mr. Roger's earlier Wilderking Trilogy, which is still one of my favorite all-time fiction series for young readers or any age readers. In order they are:

• The Bark of the Bog Owl
• The Secret of the Swamp King
• Way of the Wilderking

Get to your local bookstore or online as quick as you can to enjoy this awesome trilogy...lots of action, allegory for the Believer, and did I mention Feechies?!

The Charlatan's Boy by Jonathan Rogers

The Charlatan's Boy by Jonathan Rogers is a return to the land of Corenwald and did I mention...FEECHIES!! Now, I've just told you enough to buy the book right there, but in case you didn't know what a Feechie is (how uncultured can one be?) then these fellers dwell in the swamps of Corenwald, wear skins, are covered in gray mud, and resemble the most backwood, imbred people you've ever heard of (do I hear banjos playing?)

However, the Feechie folk are also some of the most fun characters to read, that I've found in any recent fiction. The Charlatan's Boy is no exception. Only this time, we have a young ugly duckling who has spent his life as a sideshow act as the Wildman from the Feechifen Swamp. We get an up close and personal look at the life of this boy--his joys and disappointments--as he travels with lowdown medicine man type who's only interest in the boy is how much coin he get off of exploiting him.

There's a great finish to this story that promises more to come...what are you waiting for? Go get it...now! Did I mention it's got FEECHIES in it?!

My Novels Available in All E-book / E-Reader formats!!

Hey Everyone-

I'm happy to announce that my novels are now available through SMASHWORDS! which includes probably every Ebook and E-reader format available right now. I've even included a few freebies in the mix at Smashwords...so don't miss out on a good deal!

Also, check out updated covers and updated versions already released like Perdition's Gate & A World Within, and coming soon like The Order of Shaddai & The Sword of Gideon.

Interview from Kent Holloway's Blog

KENT HOLLOWAY: I first learned of James Somers this week actually...as I was preparing for an incredible event from Seven Realms Publishing. You see, soon, Seven Realms will be hosting the INDEPENDENCE DAY in NOVEMBER. On November 24, we will be featuring independent authors of all kinds and genres right on the 7R website (www.sevenrealmspublishing.com/independence_day.html). The idea is that we hope that you, the readers, might discover your new favorite author! After all, indie films and underground bands are all the rage today...so we wondered, why not indy authors too? Well, James Somers responded to this event and sent me info on his latest Kindle release "Percival Strange and the Lonely Manor." I started reading up on this young adult fantasy adventure and immediately became hooked. I downloaded the book and am absolutely loving it. And I knew I had to share it with you as well.

At the moment, Percival Strange and the Lonely Manor is only available for the Kindle (we'll have to talk to James about that, won't we?!). And though it's marketed as a young adult (tween/teen) novel...it really is fun for kids of all ages!! I'm 39, going on 38 after all, and am having a blast reading it.

Anyway, here's the product description for it to give you a better idea of just what Percival Strange is up to:

The Lonely Manor has many secrets, and it guards them well...so why is the House beckoning Percival Strange to enter? Is the Manor House as terrifying as it seems or has its greatest secret remained undiscovered? There's only one way to find out...
Percival Strange was only curious when he took his best friend to investigate the scary things happening at the old abandoned manor house out in the middle of the woods. He had no idea the House would kidnap her, no idea she'd be ransomed in exchange for his cooperation with the deadly trials he would have to survive in order to satisfy the creepy denizens of the Imaginative Worlds dwelling there. Some of them seek his help; others his life.
Zombies, Sorcerers, Knights, Wizards, Werewolves, and all sorts of strange creatures face-off as the battle for control of the gateway to our world hangs in the balance. Percival's only hope for survival? Master the awesome powers of Creation within the Imagined Worlds before it's too late for everyone!


Sounds, good, huh? Well, James is extremely prolific! Not only has he written this great YA novel, but he's got tons of other books to consider for every age range (as long as you like high-flying adventure and action)!

1) Tell us a little bit about Percival Strange and the Lonely Manor. In your own words, kind of describe what its about. What are its themes? Who will enjoy this book?

Percival Strange has stumbled upon an old manor house deep in the woods where he witnesses some terrifying things happen. However, what he doesn’t realize is that this house is actually a gateway between our world and the Imagined Realms beyond. Having been created in the image of The Creator, man is also a creative being. We love to make things…but what if the characters, monsters and such that man imagines took on lives of their own? What would they do? Would they regard their creators with awe or envy? Percival is going to find that many of these imagined beings desire to enter our world and take it over for themselves! The novels places two Christian characters, Percival and his best childhood friend Violet, in situations they don’t understand, having to walk by faith. They are willing to sacrifice their own safety in order to help those imagined creatures who desire to maintain peace and separation between our worlds. Percival Strange would be enjoyed by nearly any age, so long as you love action adventure and fantasy on the creepy side with a little humor thrown in for good measure.

2) Having read it, I'm reminded of a great number of childhood favorites. I'm curious as to what helped inspire this book. What influences have you drawn from? Where, ultimately, did you get the idea?

One of my main influences for Percival Strange was the Oz Chronicles, by R.W. Ridley. The stories are completely different, but his series just has this really creepy vibe to it. I wanted to capture some of that “creepiness” in some of my YA fiction and Percival Strange has plenty of it. Another cool series that probably helped inspire Percival Strange would have to be the Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud. The tongue in cheek humor running through Bartimaeus’ narrative is wonderful. I hope Percival Strange is able to deliver some of that same humor: a dynamic adventure, but never too busy to be lighthearted at the right moments…it’s a nice goal anyway.

3) Now as a Christian, you seem to be really adept at blending tenets of the Christian faith perfectly with the adventures you write. They don't seem to be unnecessary intrusions into the story...but rather, helps to really round the stories out. Helps to give your stories depth. Is this deliberate? Can you give us a little insight into how you are able to do this so well?

I tend to limit ideas I’m serious about pursuing…so that I don’t find myself in territory that would cross scriptural boundaries. On the other hand, if I think I got something cool to work with, I’ll see how I can frame it so that I can use Christian characters…meaning characters whose faith is in Jesus Christ. Believers face the same problems other people do, but it’s our reactions to those problems that will be different. For instance: Percival Strange is a young Christian character. He reacts to indecision by praying, or to unanswerable questions by simple faith that God is still in control of the situation. The fantasy elements like zombies, ghosts, werewolves, etc that are involved in the story are framed in such a way that they don’t violate scripture. Do these things really exist? Of course not. So I couldn’t frame it that way and be scriptural. However, I was able to frame these elements as imagined beings and places since man did imagine all of these things in books and movies and so forth. Man is the creator of these things, but what if these beings were a bit more tangible and wanted to cast off their creators as mankind—created in the image of THE CREATOR—sought to do. Well, now you’ve got a good allegory with a good lesson too. I wish there was a good formula, but I’m really just shooting from the hip. I can’t pretend to be so brainy on the front-end of coming up with these things.

4) As I've already shared in the main portion of my blog, you're extremely prolific. Tell us a bit about your writing career. How did you first decide you wanted to write professionally? What has your journey been like? What would you like to see happen in your writing endeavors?

While in college I took up creative writing just to relieve stress, and the story I was working on kept getting longer and longer until I realized I had a novel on my hands. I kept working on it and began looking into the possibility of submitting it for publication. As I began to go through “proper channels” to accomplish this—and gaining my pile of rejection letters—I began to sense that I had two problems on my hands as a Christian writer. First, secular publishers really weren’t interested in the religious elements of my work. Second, many Christian publishers did seem interested in the fantasy elements. But to be fair, there are Christian publishers who publish fantasy novels, and maybe my particular stories just didn’t appeal. The plain fact is that it’s tough to get published—period. However, I contacted a self published author, Jeremy Robinson, who seemed to be gaining a nice following and doing well on his own. He agreed to read and review my novel, “The Chronicles of Soone: Heir to the King,” (a very Star Wars styled novel). After giving COS a great review, he approached me about publication with his start-up “Breakneck Books Publishing.” Since I was having no luck anywhere else, I gave it a whirl and my first novel was published through Breakneck Books. Following some of Jeremy’s promotional techniques, I saw pretty decent sales for an unknown author on Amazon—even before Kindle came about. Breakneck later was sold to Variance Publishing and COS is still on the list with some bestselling authors like Steve Alten of MEG fame.
Since that time, I’ve tried to get my foot into the door at some of the larger publishers, but with little success, even with a literary agent. So, frustrated again, I discovered the new Kindle from Amazon and the ability to self publish my novels in that format. Having worked closely with Jeremy Robinson on the formatting and cover work for COS I’d gained some knowledge and did everything myself—I’m a closet control freak anyway—then put out my novels on Kindle. I found even greater success with Kindle, selling my wares for a $1.00, receiving .35 cents per download. I managed to sell thousands of copies this way, even as an unknown…mostly because I assumed people would be willing to pay a buck for an interesting sounding story, whether they had heard of me or not. From there, I was approached by Trilogus Media Publishing, who contracted with me to re-release all of my Kindle novels in paperback and new Kindle books—complete with new cover work, re-edits, and some awesome interior design.
As for where I like to see it go from here: I’d love to sell millions of copies just like anyone else would, but I’m satisfied with whatever opportunities the Lord throws my way. I’d still write my novels if no one bought them…it’s too much fun!

5) Okay. Besides Percival Strange, if a reader wanted to pick up one of your books to see what you're all about, which one book would you recommend? Why would you recommend it above all your others?

Hmm…that’s a tough choice. I like all of them. But I would recommend the Realm Shift Trilogy, if I could only choose one…or is that three? Well, it’s a package deal and totally exemplifies my writing style: tons of action, cool bad-guys, a protagonist with special abilities trying to discern the right and wrongs of their abilities, epic battles, how to walk by faith even when you don’t see what good it will do, etc….Besides, it will soon come out in paperback and a new Kindle version, so anyone could read it.

6) Besides writing, what other things do you enjoy doing? Hobbies? Interests?

Well, I’m also the Pastor of Ozone Baptist Church in Rockwood, TN…I work as a Surgical Technologist doing mainly Eye Surgery. Besides spending time with my wife and children, I enjoy music: playing guitar and several other instruments.

7) I have a number of aspiring authors who read this blog. If you could offer only one piece of advice to them, what would it be?

Keep writing—don’t stop. You might get discouraged with the industry, but more and more things are changing so that authors can rely on themselves more. If big publishers aren’t interested, then try smaller ones, self publish, whatever. But don’t ever quit. Being creative is rewarding in of itself! I’ve been plenty discouraged at times, but I’m glad I kept trying.

Thanks James, for taking the time to talk to me about your passion for Christ and writing! I look forward to hearing more about your stuff in the future.

VENOM & SONG by Wayne Batson and Christopher Hopper

VENOM & SONG by Wayne Batson and Christopher Hopper is the sequel to the first Berinfell Prophecies novel, "Curse of the Spiderking." Following the cliffhanger ending of Spiderking, we catch up with the young Elf Lords as they enter the strange realm of Allyra. They have a traitor in their midst and their enemies are dogging their heels every step of the way. They have to learn their newfound abilities fast if they are to survive.

I found this installment less incumbered by the problems of the first book, particularly trying to follow seven different protagonists, nearly all in different places. The sequel packs them together better, making progress smoother for the reader and keeping details straight easier.
Venom & Song is chock full of action, creepy enemies, and intense plotting. I personally found this series harder to get into for some reason....However, young readers, (especially those who enjoy Harry Potter, Ranger's Apprentice, etc), should enjoy Venom & Song very much. I think it was a bit too "high fantasy" for me, particularly the dialogue, but that's just nitpicking based on my personal tastes. As I said, I would still highly recommend it to younger readers. I received a complementary copy of "VENOM & SONG" from the Publisher.

What others are saying about Venom & Song:

"This isn't just any fantasy book! It's a perfect blend of Elven fantasy and Earth teens. Though the mythical creatures are portrayed a little different than normal, they are still interesting and unique characters. The plot line is great, full of suspense and drama. I particularly like the Seven Elven Lords, with their amazing powers like wind walking and hyper speed. So one of the Lord's death (I won't completely spoil it!) was a very hard hit to me. I'm a reader that knows and has seen that death of main or secondary characters is very important to the story, but when it actually happens, it always makes me sad. I think I need to care less about the books I read. Overall, this book is very good for anyone and is a definite buy."

"VENOM AND SONG, book two in the Berinfell Prophecies series is an excellent Christian fiction novel. Seven new "lords" have come back to help Elf-kind win the bloody war against the Spider King. They grew up on Earth, knowing nothing of the Elf war, or of Berinfell, but now they have been returned and must learn to master their new powers in order to help turn the tide of war and win against the viscous Spider King.

Filled with wonderfully written characters, quirky twists of plot, and insightful spiritual messages, VENOM AND SONG is first-class fiction!"

THE WOLF OF TEBRON by C.S. LAKIN

The Wolf of Tebron, by C.S. Lakin is a fresh new fantasy in the Christian Fantasy genre that brought to mind old nursery rhymes where the "Cow jumped over the Moon," and movies like "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen," where we journey to distant lands that only the imagination can contain. Lakin's voice comes across well and she has no trouble holding the reader's interest, gradually giving us just enough to keep the pages turning. 

Tebron opens with a mysterious wizard trekking home from some terrible battle, only to find his wife and child under attack by creatures of darkness. In order to save his infant son, the wizard sends him away with a bear whom he communicates with telepathically. From there, the story centers around the young man, Joran, and his strange ability to mindspeak with all types of insects and animals. For much of the story, I kept wondering exactly when Joran's story would connect with the prologue about the wizard...rest assured Lakin brings it all home by the end of her tale. And by the time Joran's fantastic adventure has concluded, we realize the greater portion of this epic tale is still to be told.

VENOM & SONG: TRIBE BUILDING CONTEST!

Teen Fantasy Readers: Would you like to win a private book party with bestselling fantasy authors Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper? Would you like to win a sword of your very own? Join the Tribe Building Contest that begins today! For details, Visit: www.enterthedoorwithin.blogspot.com

SPECIAL OFFER on PERDITION'S GATE!

PERDITION'S GATE has UNOFFICIALLY been released by my publisher, TRILOGUS MEDIA GROUP. What does this mean, James?

It means that I can offer the novel at a special discounted rate here on my website during the two weeks before it becomes available on AMAZON.COM.

The novel will become available on Amazon as a paperback and Kindle book before it becomes available in bookstores and other online book sellers -- probably a month from now, so that we can get back further author reviews to put on the cover from bestsellers like Wayne Thomas Batson and Jeremy Robinson, as well as reviews from Megalith and Midwest Book Review.

Here is the link to order PERDITION'S GATE at a 15% discount through Amazon's Createspace website --- everything is handled by Amazon -- safe & secure. Don't forget to input your discount code: KQGWZ7EZ

Synopsis: Raised to kill, as the leader of Babylon's most elite special ops team, Jason Night, codename: Nightstalker, never thought he would fall in love with Sarah Cross and desire to leave the life he's always known. Nor could he foresee the dangerous secret Sarah harbored leading to her death at the hands of another Babylon agent. With the world in chaos, a powerful, charismatic leader, Oliver Theed, rises to lead the nations into a New World Order of his own sinister design. But those rising to power in his wings have their own plans and Theed may be the next target in a deadly cat and mouse game deciding the fate of the world.As Jason questions all that he's ever believed, he seeks answers and revenge. But what he finds will shake him to the core and bring him face to face with Theed, Babylon and a coming Apocalypse that cannot be avoided.

RAVEN'S LADDER by JEFFREY OVERSTREET

RAVEN'S LADDER by Jeffrey Overstreet

A DEADLY MENACE IS BREAKING THROUGH THE GROUND. THE PEOPLE OF ABASCAR MUST ABANDON THEIR STONE REFUGE AND FLEE INTO VULNERABILITY IN THE FOREST. BUT THEIR KING HAS HAD A VISION…
Following the beacon of Auralia’s colors and the footsteps of a mysterious dream-creature, King Cal-raven has discovered a destination for his weary crowd of refugees. It’s a city only imagined in legendary tales. And it gives him hope to establish New Abascar.
But when Cal-raven is waylaid by fortune hunters, his people become vulnerable to a danger more powerful than the prowling beastmen––House Bel Amica. In this oceanside kingdom of wealth, enchantment, and beauty, deceitful Seers are all too eager to ensnare House Abascar’s wandering throng.
Even worse, the Bel Amicans have discovered Auralia’s colors, and are twisting a language of faith into a lie of corruption and control.
If there is any hope for the people of Abascar, it lies in the courage of Cyndere, daughter of Bel Amica’s queen; the strength of Jordam the beastman; and the fiery gifts of the ale boy, who is devising a rescue for prisoners of the savage Cent Regus beastmen.
As his faith suffers one devastating blow after another, Cal-raven’s journey is a perilous climb from despair to a faint gleam of hope––the vision he sees in Auralia’s colors.

MY REVIEW: I received a free copy of Raven's Ladder, for the CSFF blog tour, from the publisher. As always, Overstreets lyrical prose, while unusual, is compelling reading. Raven's Ladder focuses on King Cal-Raven who seeks to lead his people out of the caves where they have lived since the literal collapse of their House Abascar in Auralia's Colors. However, danger is buidling and deadly vines spreading underground are chasing them out of hiding. Now they have become vulnerable to threats from the other houses. Characters like Jordam and Cyndere appear in this tale as well as the returning Aleboy...there's plenty going on. However, I couldn't maintain the same interest I enjoyed from the first novel, Auralia's Colors. It seemed as though Auralia, being the character behind these colors, not to mention the inspiration of many in the story, is sadly missing in all of the sequels since. She is the connection, but having been killed in the first book, leaves a void that I haven't found the side characters interesting enough to fill. Overstreet is a gifted writer, but I'm finding Auralia's Thread less interesting the further it travels away from that central, wonderful character...Miss you O' Raya :-)

Lost Mission by Athol Dickson

Lost Mission by Athol Dickson

Among the dirt-poor barrios and ultra-wealthy enclaves lining the hills of southern California, a construction project unearths a long-lost Spanish mission. This discovery sets off a chain of events that presents four unrelated people—Reverend Tucker Lockwood, Concha Rivera, Delano Jones, and Detective Harmony Killeen—with difficult choices. In every case, a greater good could be served with a compromise of some basic moral value. Lockwood could steal to feed the poor. Delano Jones could lie—or at least bury the truth—to protect his monument to God's law. Concha Rivera, a Christian with a strong sense of mission, could trespass to preach the Gospel. Detective Killeen could betray her sense of legal responsibility to defend her family. It seems these devil's alternatives will inspire these modern people to perpetuate the very crime that left the mission buried and forgotten 250 years ago—a mystery that is gradually revealed through research into a mysterious triptych excavated at the mission site, as well as through historical flashbacks. At least two themes of magical realism appear repeatedly through the story. First is the appearances of Santos, a mysterious being characterized by a crooked nose, in both the contemporary and historical storylines. And second, the gradual appearance of faces on the triptych as the story's four protagonists—often with the help of a mysterious Hispanic man with the crooked nose—decide whether they will repeat the mistakes of the past.



Lost Mission was not what I was expecting from the description: "Magical Realism." Maybe that was just my misunderstanding, but it never really grabbed my interest. I found the time jumping a bit of a distraction, though once you get used to it and realize the format of the storytelling it isn't a problem. Honestly this is not the kind of novel I would buy and so I found myself laboring to finish it. Dickson is obviously a good writer, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

Faery Rebels - Spell Hunter by R. J. Anderson

Forget everything you think you know about faeries. . . .
Creatures full of magic and whimsy?
Not in the Oakenwyld. Not anymore.
Deep inside the great Oak lies a dying faery realm, bursting with secrets instead of magic. Long ago the faeries mysteriously lost their magic. Robbed of their powers, they have become selfish and dull-witted. Now their numbers are dwindling and their very survival is at stake.
Only one young faery—Knife—is determined to find out where her people's magic has gone and try to get it back. Unlike her sisters, Knife is fierce and independent. She's not afraid of anything—not the vicious crows, the strict Faery Queen, or the fascinating humans living nearby. But when Knife disobeys the Faery Queen and befriends a human named Paul, her quest becomes more dangerous than she realizes. Can Knife trust Paul to help, or has she brought the faeries even closer to the brink of destruction?


Faery Rebels, by R. J. Anderson was not exactly the novel I was expecting when I saw the cover, which looked more like a Tinkebell knock-off to me, being a guy. However, I read an Amazon review which said that patience with the first part of the novel would be rewarded by the time you got further in...and they were right. I perservered through some of what I might have expected until the unexpected and intriguing finally took hold. There is a mystery to be solved here and you have to be patient and let it unfold. But once you do, you'll find a story worth reading. The interpersonal relationship between the faery, Knife, and the human, Paul, is especially interesting...far more natural and endearing than the hormonal Twilight fluff so popular these days. Anderson also brings both the mystery and the relationship between Knife and Paul to a satifying resolution by the end. All in all, a satisfying fantasy where a little patience does uncover gold.

North or be Eaten by Andrew Peterson

I recieved a complimentary copy of "NORTH or be EATEN," by Andrew Peterson. The novel is for young readers, about 10 and up. I found the novel slow to start, although it eventually picked up some. Young readers who are patient will find this fantasy series enjoyable with its various creatures and of course the Fangs of Drang are back. Peterson, a famous singer songwriter, has a vivid imagination and writes with a certain amount of wit, never taking himself too seriously. This second novel may be a little darker than the first, but kids are smarter than they're often given credit for and shouldn't find anything scary about the story. Older readers might not enjoy the series as much. I admit I had a hard time holding interest, but that may be only my personal preferences.

THE SWORD OF GIDEON has been RELEASED!

The third and final installment in the REALM SHIFT TRILOGY: "The Sword of Gideon" has released on Amazon.com. Just thought I would share that news for all the readers following the series. As always, I hope you enjoy the story!

All of the novels can be purchased in either AMAZON KINDLE FORMAT or TRADE PAPERBACK.

DAY #3 "HEED THE PROPHECIES!"

On our last day of the blog tour for Wayne Batson and Christopher Hopper's "Berinfell Prophecies," we're featuring the great new website dedicated to the series: HEED THE PROPHECIES (dot)com

On the site you'll find the latest news on the series as well as a public forum where you can interact with the authors and other fans. And if you want to know a bit more about Wayne and Christopher, there's also some great biographical info as well.

DAY 2 : THE INTERVIEW!

Joining me today are Christian Fantasy authors, Wayne Thomas Batson and Christopher Hopper. Wayne is the bestselling author of the Door Within Trilogy as well as Isle of Swords & Isle of Fire. He is also a middle school teacher with a heart for kids and their eternal destiny. Christopher is the author of the White Lion Chronicles as well as a Pastor and Worship leader. Both of these men have a passion for Christ and have joined forces to bring us a new Christian Fantasy series entitled "The Berinfell Prophecies." Book One, "The Curse of the Spider King," has just recently come out and is quickly moving up the charts. As you can see these guys are serious about their fiction--so buy their book or they might "cut yor 'ead off!"

Wayne was gracious enough to take some time, from his busy schedule, in order to fill us in a bit on this joint effort and the Berinfell Prophecies. Tomorrow we'll feature more cool STUFF on Berinfell Prophecies!

Wayne, how did you two come up with the premise for The Berinfell Prophecies?

I have a file folder on my Mac that contains somewhere around 30 "story kernels." These are kind of cool little nuggets of plot that have the potential to be fleshed out as a novel. One of these I was particularly keen on, I proposed to Christopher. It was about a young boy who thought of himself as pretty unremarkable but was noticed (in a suspicious kind of way) by the school's librarian. CH loved it and together we brainstormed what could be going on here. It soon became apparent that this one boy was not alone. There were seven youths in the mix and there were dark forces stalking them.

Did you have any fictional inspirations for the story?

Tolkien always inspires me. But there wasn't any other story that gave me inspiration.

How about any biblical inspiration for the story?

Biblical inspiration, definitely. The scriptures that speak of God grafting us in, adopting us as sons (and daughters), calling us "friend," those are powerful influencers of this novel.

Describe your process for coordinating the writing between two novelists.

Thank God for technology. CH is a 7-hour drive from me in Upstate NY. So we have used cell phones, iChat, Yahoo Messenger, texting, etc. to be able to go back and forth. We begin by outlining together. We need a road map, so we took quite a bit of time to flesh out where we thought the story would go. We broke it down into scenes, rather than chapters and divided those scenes between the two of us depending on who was most passionate about that scene.

Can Christians learn any important lessons from the Elves in Berinfell? Please describe any allegory taking place in the story.

Curse of the Spider King, as well as, the other Berinfell books will, we pray, encourage believers to stop fighting over things and start fighting the enemy. Our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces in this dark world.

Will Berinfell be a trilogy and what are some things we might see in the next installment?

The Berinfell Prophecies, God-willing, will be at least a trilogy. We're nearly finished the second book, Venom and Song, and are already batting ideas around for a 3rd book.

Where did you two learn to swordfight?

On the Fantasy Fiction East Coast Tour. We actually met a stage combat teacher while doing a signing in Barnes & Noble, I think in Virginia. She taught us some basic moves. And the rest we kind of just make up as we go. Though, I think CH might have some more formal training.

CURSE OF THE SPIDER KING: BERINFELL PROPHECIES #1

CURSE OF THE SPIDER KING by Wayne Batson and Christopher Hopper, is the huge kick-off to a brand new Christian Fantasy series. And while intended for young readers, there's plenty for young adults and adults (young at heart) to enjoy and keep you turning pages furiously all the way to the end.

Be sure to stay tuned tomorrow for an interview with Wayne Batson and Christopher Hopper!

Curse of the Spider King Reivew:

Nevermind the old cliche, one or two heros to the mix, in Curse of the Spider King we find seven Elf Lords who've been transported to the earth realm as infants. Caught in the Spider King's web during a major overthrow of Elf power in his realm, these infants cannot be killed without unleashing a terrible curse. The Spider King's servants defy his orders and send the infant lords to earth in order to avoid the curse and the wrath of their king. But now the children, adopted by human parents, have grown to maturity and their individual Elf abilities are manifesting themselves. For their part, the children have no idea of their real heritage until the Spider King's assassins begin to move in. Only their secret protectors among the elves can stop them. But the race is on to get them back to their homeworld, where these seven lords will face the Spider King himself in a battle that could save or end the Elves forever!

Spider King is a non-stop fantasy thrill ride that kids will love. It's hard to pick a favorite Elf lord out of the bunch, because each has their own special power which makes them volatile to say the least. It's almost like trying to pick your favorite among the X-Men and both girls and boys will find someone they can empathize with in this exciting tale. Batson and Hopper have overcome the long distance obstacle to seamlessly stitch this story together. I've read both of their individual works and honestly could never figure out who had written what. By the time you reach the cliffhanger ending Spider King will have you locked in its web of action and intrigue, ready for the bigger adventure still waiting in Book 2!

HAUNT OF JACKALS BY ERIC WILSON

Haunt of Jackals by Eric Wilson When Jesus was resurrected, ancient scripture says many rose from the grave. Today, 36 from this group of undead remain. Known as the Nistarim, they are here to watch over the world.When Judas hung himself, his blood mysteriously gave rise to another group of undead: the unholy Collectors. Now very much alive, they feed on souls and human blood.Both groups of immortals still walk among us in an eternal struggle. Now both are after a single target--a boy named Pavel who may possess the key to the Collectors' unlimited power...or ultimate downfall.Gina, a woman fleeing for her own life, is determined to protect the boy at all costs. She has survived one battle with the undead already, but has no idea how long she'll be able to stay a step ahead of them.The Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy takes readers on a riveting journey, as imaginative fiction melds with biblical and archaeological history.

Amazon Reviewed: I found Haunt of Jackals to be an awesome read. This is not usually the kind of book I read but I won the first book of the series, Field of Blood and I was very anxious for the second one to be available. I love Eric Wilson's writing style and I couldn't put the book down once I started it. I can't wait for the next one. Vampires are really intriguing.

What's So Great About Salvation?

The Lord has led me to do some non-fiction Bible study writing based upon my sermons. The first Kindle E-book is "WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT SALVATION?" which is an in depth look at all the different things we've been given as believers through the free gift of salvation. Many you'll know, but hadn't realized just how great it is...others you may have never considered before. But we have a whole lot of reasons why salvation is the greatest thing mankind has ever been given!

THE VANISHING SCULPTOR by Donita K Paul

The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita K. Paul : is a delightful tale of otherworldly adventures laced with heavenly meanings. Author Donita K. Paul skillfully transports you to a fantasy world populated with emerlindians, tumanhofers, speaking grand parrots, wizards, and magical librarians; where flying dragons communicate and mysterious portals whisk you across the world. Readers young and old will love journeying along with the enchanting questing party on their mission to save the world and discover a loving God.



“Have you ever looked at a painting from a distance and thought it beautiful, only to draw nearer to it and realize it was more exquisite, complex, and wonderful than you ever imagined? The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita K. Paul is like that. I began reading and liked it. As usual, I found myself happily enveloped in a vivid world full of emerlindians, tumanhofers, and dragons. But then, just when I thought the work was beautiful, something deep within me started to tingle…and I began to see that The Vanishing Sculptor was far more than simple entertainment or escape. I had one ‘Ah Ha!’ moment after another. Clues everywhere, right in front of my eyes, blossomed into truth until, at last, I put down the book and swam in the rich waters of adventure, peace, and blessed melancholy–that rare state revealing you’ve been touched by the story of an inspired author. The Vanishing Sculptor is sure to be loved by readers and re-readers of every age.”–Wayne Thomas Batson, bestselling author of The Door Within Trilogy, Isle of Swords, and Isle of Fire



“Stunning beginning to a new series! Rarely does an author re-capture the exquisite charm and the bold freshness first discovered in their initial series. Donita K. Paul fans are in for a treat as they uncover new wonders and enchantment in the world of Amara. New readers will revel in the magical blend of mischief and mayhem woven with wittiness and intrigue throughout this engaging tale. From the zany disposition of Lady Peg to the spirited charm and wit of Tipper, her youthful daughter, The Vanishing Sculpture, tingles our most fervent emotions of love, joy, and hope. An exciting complement to The DragonKeeper Chronicles and a fantastical adventure for inaugural audiences of all ages.”–Eric Reinhold, author of The Annals of Aeliana, Ryann Watters and the King’s Sword and Ryann Watters and the Shield of Faith