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She reads books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live.
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Genre: Contemporary Romance Publisher: Hot Tree Publishing Publication Date: February 2, 2019 Pages: 344 Add to GoodReads Buy: Books2Read SynopsisTaking a break from screenwriting in New York City, Londyn Bellerose takes a nannying job in Colorado to get away from the hubbub. A summer to live without regrets is all she wants. While her boss is British, gorgeous, and a millionaire, he has no clue how to have fun. Determined to mend the relationship between father and daughters, Londyn doesn’t expect to fall for the museum curator. Londyn is American and everything Callum Archer swore to never fall for again. With her carefree spirit and energetic smile, she’s perfect to nanny Callum’s two daughters. The problem is she’s also perfect for him. She’s sassy, musical, and tends to speak her mind more than she means to. When old history and new dreams threaten her happily ever after, will Londyn and Callum’s love survive? Hearts Abroad is book one in Skye McNeil’s romantic comedy series, Atlas. Each book contains a millionaire to envy, snort-worthy comedy, and visits to many beautiful cities in the world. Yes, all of that, plus each novel ends with a fabulous HEA. About the AuthorSkye McNeil began writing at the age of seventeen and has been lost in a love affair ever since. During the day, she moonlights as a paralegal at a law firm favoring criminal law. Skye enjoys writing romantic comedies and romantic suspense novels that leave readers wanting more and falling in love over and over. She writes contemporary and historical novels ranging from sweet and sassy to steamy and sultry. Her constant writing companions are two cats and two dogs. When she's not writing, Skye enjoys spending time with family, photography, volleyball, traveling, and curling up with a cup of coffee and reading. Connect with Skye
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Genre: Romantic Suspense Publisher: Limitless Publishing, LLC Publication Date: April 26, 2019 Pages: 260 Add to GoodReads Buy: Amazon SynopsisMy only goal is to keep my club safe at all cost. I don’t let anyone in, and I never show weakness. All it takes is one vulnerable moment, and this world will chew you up and spit you out in bloody pieces. To survive, you need to be ruthless. Cruel. Fuelled by vengeance and hate alone. It’s the only way…it’s our way. Jade, AKA the Ice Queen, thinks she can go around and take down every MC she manages to infiltrate. But not ours. I will take her down to hell in order to protect the Devil’s Shadow, and if that means I have to burn alongside her…then so be it. About the AuthorK.H. Kate is a University student, occasional painter and author of Contemporary and Paranormal romance books. She loves to venture into the world of action, dark romance, give happy endings with a little bit of tragedy and paint a world full of raw emotions. Born and raised AS A DREAMER, she has been writing for four years. She started writing to give life to her imaginary characters until they become stories themselves. Connect with K.H.Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult Publisher: Riversong Books Publication Date: November 15, 2017 Pages: 295 Add to GoodReads Buy: Amazon SynopsisSixteen-year-old Niena wants nothing more than to attend an elite bardic college, but when the dragon that shattered the empire awakens again she finds herself on the run, through the fey realm of Fairhome, to the city where she was born. On her trail are her army veteran grandfather, thrown into a commander's role he doesn't want, the lord of the fairies, trying to steer her to his own ends, and the husband she won't meet for fifteen years. If she kills the dragon, she'll save everyone she holds dear. But if she kills the dragon, she's cursed instead to become it. About S.D.Stephen Reeves was born in 1980 in Huntsville, Alabama, but grew up in a small community just on the edge called Madison. His writing career began during a boring math class in college and has blossomed over the last couple of decades into something decidedly not boring. His works have been published in numerous zines including The Blotter, Chantwood, Yellow Chair Review, and The Writers Drawer. Stephen has also reviewed books for Oxford University Press, including Micheal Newtons Victorian Fairy Tales. Curses of Scale is his debut novel, written over the course of four years in the inspirational country of Switzerland, where he now resides with his wife, two cats, and an obsessive Pomeranian. InterviewWhere do you get your ideas for your books? Who or what inspired your idea? S.D.R: Seems to be rather a mishmash of things. Characters? Often are inspired by people that stand out to me. Locations? Moving to Switzerland has definitely helped with inspirational landscapes. The city of Shenan for instance, is loosely based off the Bellazona. As far as the plot, part of me wants to be silly here and say 'Alcohol,' but the reality is usually the development of the characters drive the creation of my plot. How did you develop the plot and your characters? Are your characters based on anyone? S.D.R: It may sound a bit strange, but I tend to have conversations with my characters. Imagining them to be real, flesh and blood beings helps me to get to the meat of who they are. Thankfully my wife is around to keep me from being locked away. Beyond that, they have pieces pulled from regular folk I encounter, and my own madness. Marny for instance, was based off one of my wife's friends whom I met during a early Empire period (1805) re-enactment, his particular personality of the old-gruff-captain just struck me. The plot just, sort of develops along side. Sure, I often have a general idea of where I am going, but how I get there is a bit of a journey. Do you write when you're inspired? Or do you have a schedule you keep to? S.D.R: Most of the time I write when I feel like it, however lately I've been writing a lot during my lunch breaks where I work. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? Maybe a piece of advice that stuck with you from your adventure into the world of publishing? S.D.R: I have found when trying to market my book that while researching similar novels was helpful, it always came down to trial-and-error. So keep that in mind when you get emails promising to help you sell thousands of books, and what not. Tell us a bit more about yourself. How did you know you wanted to be a writer? Who or what inspires you to write? S.D.R: This is a bit harder to explain. I just feel a need to do it. Some writers will say that they have so many stories they want to tell. For me, it is a bit different. I have some many characters I would like to put to a story. How much of yourself goes into your writing? Or do you keep yourself separate and base the character on someone else entirely? S.D.R: I try to keep myself separate, but there is always going to be some cross over. What has helped shape and improve your writing? S.D.R: Reading critiques, not of my own writing, but of others. Beyond this I would say writing, has helped my writing. What are you reading right now? Do you recommend it or have any other recommendations? S.D.R: Right now I am reading a piece of literature for another author. Can't say that I would recommend it yet, but I am very picky. Personally I would suggest "The Bear and the Nightingale," by Katherine Arden, if you like historical fantasy. Do your novels carry a message or do you feel it's subjective? S.D.R: My novels tend to not carry a specific, singular message. At least not intentionally. What works best for you: Typewriters, fountain pen, dictate, computer or longhand? S.D.R: A laptop, with a mechanical keyboard if I can. Connect with S.D.Genre: Dark Fantasy, Sci-fi, Thriller, Erotica Publisher: JMS Books LLC Publication Date: December 1st, 2018 Pages: 82 Add to GoodReads Buy on: JMS Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble SynopsisAs a young stag-shifter, all Pembroke dreams of is being harnessed to Santa’s sleigh. Yet his world comes crashing down when Santa is slain by the imposter Frost. War erupts in the Arctic Circle, pitting elf against reindeer, and Pembroke is sent on a perilous mission. If he fails, his herd will be lost. When the mission goes awry, the stag-shifter must put his trust in an unlikely ally. Where does one turn in a land of ice and blood? What happens when the enemy infiltrates your heart? What begins as a wavering alliance just might take Pembroke farther than he ever imagined. About the Author"Sugar Plum'd" is Leon Mauvais' debut! He's a beret-wearing sprite who fell asleep in the cornfields of Pennsylvania. He dreams in the husks, hoping his tales taste like taffy, but help build crystallized armor. Once, he lingered in the corners of the last used bookstores searching for forbidden adventures on exotic worlds. Connect with LeonGenre: Legal Thriller Publisher: Roundfire Books Publication Date: February 22, 2019 Pages: 336 Add to GoodReads Buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Waterstones SynopsisWhen a homeless war veteran is beaten to death by the police, stormy protests ensue, engulfing a small New Jersey town. Soon after, three cops are gunned down. A multi-state manhunt is underway for a cop killer on the loose. And Dr. Tessa Thorpe, a veteran's counselor, is caught up in the chase. Donald Darfield, an African-American Iraqi war vet, war-time buddy of the beaten man, and one of Tessa's patients, is holed up in a mountain cabin. Tessa, acting on instinct, sets off to find him, but the swarm of law enforcement officers gets there first, leading to Darfield's dramatic capture. Now, the only people separating him from the lethal needle of state justice are Tessa and ageing blind lawyer, Nathaniel Bodine. Can they untangle the web tightening around Darfield in time, when the press and the justice system are baying for revenge? About the AuthorN. Lombardi Jr, the N for Nicholas, has spent over half his life in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, working as a groundwater geologist. Nick can speak five languages: Swahili, Thai, Lao, Chinese, and Khmer (Cambodian). In 1997, while visiting Lao People's Democratic Republic, he witnessed the remnants of a secret war that had been waged for nine years, among which were children wounded from leftover cluster bombs. Driven by what he saw, he worked on The Plain of Jars for the next eight years. Nick maintains a website with content that spans most aspects of the novel: The Secret War, Laotian culture, Buddhism etc. http://plainofjars.net His second novel, Journey Towards a Falling Sun, is set in the wild frontier of northern Kenya. His latest novel, Justice Gone was inspired by the fatal beating of a homeless man by police. Nick now lives in Phnom Penh, Cambodia Connect with NicholasHi Book Dragons!
I hope you're all well! This year has been a much better one for me. Although I am behind in my reviews (sorry! Working on those!) I am reading more this year and I've been putting a lot of work into my blog as well. After Drew @TheTattooedBookGeek had shared The Caffeinated Reader's post on How to E-mail a Book Blogger, I realized: holy crap, I don't have a Review Policy. Which might explain some of my e-mails lately involving books that I wouldn't ever read. I wrote up a Review Policy and I will be following that when I accept Reviews, Interviews and Featured Books. It's there as a guide for you, as authors/street teams/publishers/publicists and it's there for me, as well. You can also check out the genres I read as well, just as a reference if you do feel like you want to try tempting the Book Dragon. Anything outside of my genre list may not be considered, apologies. I do recommend you read my review policy before e-mailing me so that there isn't any confusion if I do not respond. If you're unsure, please just e-mail me and ask any question. I am hoping to work on some personal posts with book related questions or topics. I also hope to get back into Tease Tuesdays and also Best Book of the Month posts next year. But that's it, I think I've rambled on enough now. Have a great week! Dennis K. Hausker was born and raised in Michigan. Now retired, he and his wife love to travel. He is a prolific author, plays golf, and follows his Michigan State University Spartans. "I was aiming at an audience that likes battle sagas, but also I wanted to explore the aftermath." Where do you get your ideas for your books? Who or what inspired your idea? DKH: I just enjoy writing. How did you develop the plot and your characters? Are your characters based on anyone? DKH: No, they're fictional. I'm a story-line oriented writer. Do you write when you're inspired? Or do you have a schedule you keep to? DKH: I'm retired so I write on no particular schedule. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? Maybe a piece of advice that stuck with you from your adventure into the world of publishing? DKH: Don't give up when facing the challenges of publishing your work. Tell us a bit more about yourself. How did you know you wanted to be a writer? Who or what inspires you to write? DKH: Basically, I started writing after retirement when I had time at last. I have concerns about the sorry state of our country so those concerns tend to bleed into the stories to a certain extent. My characters aren't sanitized, but I try to humanize them with all the normal human frailties. How much of yourself goes into your writing? Or do you keep yourself separate and base the character on someone else entirely? DKH: I don't try to relate any of my books to personal history other than a little of having been in the Vietnam War. What has helped shape and improve your writing? DKH: Dealing with various editors from the publishers and attending a writers conference in New York. What are you reading right now? Do you recommend it or have any other recommendations? DKH: Michele Obama's book. My favorite author has always been Michael Crichton. Do your novels carry a message or do you feel it's subjective? DKH: I tend to write possibilities. In many cases, I write in a way to allude to behaviors of characters where I leave it to the reader to choose. Did the woman do this, or not? All of us are flawed, so I write characters accordingly. What works best for you: Typewriters, fountain pen, dictate, computer or longhand? DKH: Computer. Thank you to Dennis for providing us with this interview! Don't forget to stop by and check his book Echo Three Tango (links and synopsis below!). Genre: Military, Science Fiction, Romance Publisher: Strategic Book Publishing & Rights Co. Publication Date: 2018 Pages: 242 Add to GoodReads Buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo SynopsisEcho Three Tango, E3T, is dropped into a war zone on a new planet facing a savage foe capable of destroying all life forms. Surviving the forced retreat of their E3T corps, Bret and a small band of his Federation soldiers are stranded and left behind to create a new society. Contact DennisGenre: Satire, Thriller Publisher: Something Something LLC Publication Date: November 18, 2018 Pages: 268 Add to GoodReads Buy on: Amazon SynopsisDeath once had a near-Chuck experience. Meet Chuck Steak. His insides are well done. He’s a cop, but not just any. He’s the best. Hasn’t been one like him since the ‘90s. Won’t work with partners and disregards the collateral damage his boss is always screaming about. Chuck Steak is USDA Prime badass, so having a bomb planted inside Mia, his secret, longtime girlfriend who’s been dreaming of marriage for almost a decade, should be just another day at the office. The problem is, an elusive villain challenges Chuck to deliver Mia’s dream wedding within a week’s time, or she’ll blow. Overwhelmed with “girly tasks”, Chuck’s forced out of his action-heavy comfort zone and into scenarios which require words instead of bullets. One results in the loss of his right hand, and when it’s replaced with a black hand, this white cop (now .65% black) encounters a new kind of villain: racism. With time against him, Chuck will have to find a non-violent way to convince the love of his life and her disapproving family that this isn’t another publicity stunt—that after all of these years, it’s finally time to ditch the legacy he’s been slaving over in favor of the family she’s always dreamed of. All while overcoming unexpected hurdles like his own department and their trigger-happy mentality toward minorities, backstories, a feminist gang, incredibly friendly Muslims, dementia, depression, gender equality, and trying to maintain action-orientated roots in an increasingly politically correct world. About the AuthorCasper is somewhat published and will probably continue to write for like ever. Connect with CasperGenre: Fantasy, Historical, Romance Publisher: Waterside Press Publication Date: October 9, 2018 Pages: 200 Add to GoodReads Buy on: Amazon, B&N SynopsisWhen the world collapses from a Golden Age into one of chaos and strife, mankind’s salvation lies in the hands of eternal Emissaries — guardians chosen to protect the secrets of a sacred, ancient civilization and to guide humanity back to enlightenment even as its darkest hour approaches… A timeless tale of love reborn through the ages. Marcus has past life memory and his soulmate Theron does not, but the two lovers are bound by an eternal and unshakable bond. As a series of catastrophic events nearly destroys their world, the two along with a chosen few become Emissaries destined, over the course of 13,000 years and through many reincarnations, to lead humanity into an era of peace and prosperity as foretold by the Elders of their race. But the forces of evil have taken possession of one man, Helghul, who relentlessly pursues Marcus and Theron through time, determined to destroy them and ruin all hope for salvation. The Emissary, Book I in The One Great Year Series, tracks Marcus’s epic adventure across centuries of human civilization to present day, where envoys of darkness gather around them threatening to bury the life-giving secrets of Atitala forever. Good and evil come to blows and the future of mankind hangs in the balance. “For every soul there is a theme, a path that must be followed, lessons that must be learned…” About the AuthorsRene DeFazio and Tamara Veitch are a husband and wife writing team. Rene is an actor, producer and author. Tamara studied English, History and General Arts at Simon Fraser University. The co-authors have been writing together for nearly a decade. In 2012 they received Honorable mention from the New York Book Festival and The London Book Festival. In 2014 they were each awarded an Empowered Writers Award at the World International Peace festival In Vancouver BC, Canada. Tamara and Rene continue creating The One Great Year Series and traveling the world researching with their children. They are grateful for the support of their faithful readers and hope you truly enjoy your journey into the world of The Emissary. Connect with Tamara and ReneGenre: Science Fiction, Dystopia Publisher: CreateSpace Publication Date: March 25, 2016 Pages: 298 Format: ePub Add to Goodreads Buy on: Amazon, Kobo, B&N Synopsis Catastrophe befell Earth seventy-five years ago after an alien virus was introduced, accelerating evolution in wild and unpredictable ways. Humanity has become an endangered species, but an ancient prophecy, a Warrior of the People, and his prophetic vision of an unknown youth may be the keys to healing both the human race and the planet. After being wounded in battle, Otaktay- a warrior of the People- receives a prophetic vision which opens the door to the rediscovery of a lost and forgotten prophecy as old as the first people of North America. With the guidance of the Ma'iingan, he and his band of brothers- the Swooping Hawks- are sent on a desperate race against time to find and rescue the young man foretold by the Prophecy of the Seven Fires. In the New World, survival of the fittest is the rule as the struggle against savage, bloodthirsty predators and shifting paradigms creates an exciting and action-packed adventure where old magic and ancient prophecy shape the future. Review I received this eBook from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This was definitely a unique read for me. It mixed the apocalypse, an advanced dystopian world in which people are surviving the best they can with what they have and the skills they've learned. It's also managed to sew Native American beliefs into the story quite seamlessly. The author has done a great job at building his world, creating unique characters, adding in new and old lore and adding in the horrors of a lawless world with monsters at your back, and monsters in humans. That all being said, the story does possess some pretty tough topics. Although we've all gathered that in a dystopian world with no laws, people show the worst of the worst. With no one to have them face their crimes, they get away with it. Especially if someone is desperate enough to turn blind eyes. Either way, this was written well and I did enjoy it, as dystopian sci-fi is a favourite of mine. I recommend it for any other dystopian sci-fi fans. About the Author Born in the heart of West Virginia, Royce dreamed of becoming a writer throughout his younger years and was always an avid reader. Starting out with an old, and often temperamental typewriter, he wrote poems and stories that helped to develop his young imagination. A kind-hearted teacher in Junior High School took his first "manuscript" home for the summer and painstakingly read through pages and pages of violent, poorly written L. Sprague de Camp-esque combat scenes. She returned it the following school year with the classic red marks, suggestions, and encouragement that fueled his desire to write. (I still edit with a red pen, just to experience the nostalgia of that first "manuscript") A word processor, a gift from his grandparents, became the source of many tall tales which unfortunately never left the realm of the 3.5 inch floppy disks. Those tales, and the disks they were stored upon, faded into the digital oblivion of lost ideas. He later joined the Navy, serving on the USS Belknap (CG-26), the USS Mississippi (CGN-40) and at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, in Portsmouth, Virginia. After a brief career in sales, he went back to school at Marshall University, and is now a Registered Nurse in Charleston, WV at one of the largest hospital systems in the region. He attended and graduated from Saint Mary's School of Nursing and Marshall University. Royce lives near Charleston, WV with his wife Carolyn, and their menagerie of fur babies. Connect with Royce
Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure Publisher: Words Matter Publishing Publication Date: August 15, 2018 Pages: 340 Add to Goodreads Buy on: Amazon, Indigo, Kobo, B&N, IndieBound Synopsis Grace's nine-year-old son, Jordan, is dying. First, the Metagenesis disease will tear his soul from his body, and then it will kill him. Desperate for a cure, Grace agrees to take part in an illegal clinical trial cloning souls. Supported by her best friend Kay, the two embark on the ultimate "Vegas Vacation" to the past in search of the right soul to clone, racing against time to save Jordan's life. But someone is trying to stop them and when they discover why, Grace must make a choice: let her son die or kill her husband. If she kills her husband, she triggers widespread Metagenesis, sealing the fate of the human race with a new plague. Humanity is counting on Grace choosing to let her son die. About the Author Raquel Rich is a self-employed English Language Teacher and an author with Words Matter Publishing. She loves to travel, suntan, walk her dog, and is obsessed with all things Beauty & the Beast. She despises cold weather, balloons, and writing about herself in the third person but noticed all the real authors do that. Raquel recently left (ok, got let go from) a career in the travel industry and rather than looking for a real job, she wrote her first book, HAMARTIA. Born and raised in Canada to Brazilian parents, she lives in the Toronto area with her family. Married to the guy she’s been with since she was fifteen (her baby daddy), her superpowers include being a mom to their two awesome grown-ass boys and one fur baby. She’s also an okay step-mom and an auntie to a clan of classy ladies. Connect with Raquel
Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: Almond Jones LLC Publication Date: July 31, 2018 Pages: 476 Add to Goodreads Buy on: Almond Jones | Amazon | B&N Synopsis Celeste Bonalee is anything but average. In fact, she's one of a kind - a highly skilled courier pilot with dreams of owning her own hangar. One last delivery is all she needs. There's only one thing stopping her... World War II. When Celeste is shot down over Paris in 1940, it'll take more than she ever expected for Celeste and her dreams to survive in a world that is falling apart. Can Celeste and her wingmen make it back home in one piece? Or will war consume her generation and its aspirations? WINGMEN is the story of us all and the lessons we have yet to learn. Grab your Free Chapter of Wingmen Interview Where do you get your ideas for your books? Who or what inspired your idea? AJ: I write because I have a story to tell. My ideas come from stories that need to be told. We live in a time where there is a strong need for people to understand each other. That is a large part of this story. How did you develop the plot and your characters? Are your characters based on anyone? AJ: No, my characters aren’t based on anyone. I pull them from my imagination. Once I know my characters, I know their story and what they will and won’t do. Do you write when you're inspired? Or do you have a schedule you keep to? AJ: I write consistently. If I’m working on a project, I write a little bit everyday. If I’m starting a new project, depending on what it is, I do the character work first. Then I can write. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? Maybe a piece of advice that stuck with you from your adventure into the world of publishing? AJ: Write the story. Figure it out. No one is going to tell you how to do it or how they did it, so get to work. Tell us a bit more about yourself. How did you know you wanted to be a writer? Who or what inspires you to write? AJ: I didn’t know I wanted to be a writer. In fact, I tried everything I could not to be one, but God had other things in mind. It was something that took years to figure out. So, I’m just getting started. How much of yourself goes into your writing? Or do you keep yourself separate and base the character on someone else entirely? AJ: I separate myself from all my characters. They react differently than I would and make different choices. It’s difficult to write about myself, so I make sure my characters are their own person. What has helped shape and improve your writing? AJ: Getting an editor and other industry professionals to proof my drafts. They can tell me things about my writing that will help me write a better draft and get my projects to where they need to be to proceed to the next phase. What are you reading right now? Do you recommend it or have any other recommendations? AJ: I lean toward nonfiction in my personal reading times. I finished reading Redefining Moments in Black History: Reading Between the Lies by Dick Gregory a few months ago. I’m looking for my next good read. Connect with Almond Jones
Genre: Horror, Anthology Publisher: KJK Publishing Publication Date: October 22, 2018 Pages: 358 Add to Goodreads Buy on: Amazon Synopsis Roll up, roll up! Welcome to the carnival! Enjoy the sweet smells of the cotton candy and candy apples. Listen to the calliope music as you wander among the many stalls, to the screams of children enjoying the various rides. It’s all been designed to take your money, but you already know that. What you are not aware of, however, are the strange goings-on of the carnival world after dark. Do the carnies want more than your money? Does the fortune teller know more than she tells you? Are some of the games more dangerous than others? Explore your worst fears, and perhaps gain some new ones, in these twisted tales of what really goes on at the carnival after dark! Table of Contents: Mark Fleming - Lifeblood Lex H. Jones - For One Night Only Andrew Lennon - House of Illusion Jason M. Light - Abandonland David J. Fielding - Wobbly Bob Ike Hamill - The Pinch Christina Bergling - Zoltara Gary A. Braunbeck - In a Hand or Face John Dover - Frimby's Big Day David Owain Hughes - The Last Freakshow on Earth H.R. Boldwood - Mister Weasels and the Cosmic Carnival Joe X. Young - The Frog Prince Guy N. Smith - Blood Show at the Carnival Steven Stacy - The Voodoo Man J.C. Michael - What a Price to Pay for a Fucking Teddy Bear Selene MacLeod - Sweetheart Kevin J. Kennedy - Vampiro About the Author Kevin J Kennedy is an author/editor from Scotland. He is the co-author of You Only Get One Shot, and the man behind the best-selling Collected Horror Shorts anthologies and 100 Word Horrors. His stories have featured in many other notable anthologies in the horror genre and he has recently become a guest editor for several publishers. He is an active member of the Horror Writers Association. Connect with Kevin
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy Publisher: On the Fly Publications Publication Date: March 5, 2018 Pages: 440 Add to Goodreads Synopsis SHADOW IS AZH’NAHN, A POWERLESS MAGE born into a culture that prides itself in sharing the earth’s powers. When he chooses a life of voluntary exile to preserve his family’s honor, Shadow receives a mysterious call to witness the unearthing of kotrakoy, treacherous telepathic beasts with four wings and four rows of teeth. As he watches their unholy resurrection with great horror, kotrakoy open their minds to his and offer a glimpse into what life would be like wielding a mage’s powers. As Shadow races to warn his people of the impending threat, he stumbles into an unexpected romance, an unwanted leadership position fraught with treachery, and the creepy Mists of Ishmandool. Soon a superstitious tech race begins bombing his people and magic evolves, leaving Shadow’s people crippled and defenseless. When he announces that he's unlocked the secret to the new magic and the key to defeating enemy troops, few are ready to listen. To be fair, his solution suffers a few fatal flaws, the least of which is that it risks the complete annihilation of his people. Worse, it’s unprecedented and UNPROVEN. Where to Buy About the Author Drew explores what happens when technology clashes with magic. He’s been compared to Ursula LeGuin (Harry Potter’s biggest influence), Elaine Cunningham (queen of dark fantasy and Forgotten Realms), and Fydor Dostoevsky (godfather of Crime and Punishment), but he takes his greatest pride in the fact that he can juggle more balls than any other author on the planet. His books feature post-apocalyptic genetically engineered humans joining forces with magically empowered aliens (Moon 514), superstitious steampunk societies warring with a magical society temporarily deprived of its magic (Unproven), high-tech assassins trying to distinguish memory implants from reality (Assassin Hunter), drug enhanced magic systems (Slice), psionically gifted dragons, telepathic griffons, symbiotic vampiric vines, and entrancing world building. He aims to deliver thriller pacing a la Dan Brown and tightly outlined Brandon Sanderson-esque plots all while exploring deeply personal character growth. He accidentally found himself a bestselling author in YA SFF Steampunk (#1) and Action & Adventure (#2)(Unproven) and SFF Anthologies (#1)(5 Blades) and a Top 5 Author at SciFiFantasyFreak.com (Moon 514). Currently, Drew’s working on a screenplay for Unproven (as a teen animated series) and Sea Dragon Apocalypse (a technothriller-epic-fantasy-mashup). Connect with Author Interview Where do you get your ideas for your books? Who or what inspired your idea?
DB: I find ideas everywhere (books, movies, advertisements, history, science articles, etc.) but often, the most inspiring ideas for me come from fantasy art. The first scene from Unproven came from a painting I found where a group of people come across what appears to be dinosaur bones but they are intact as if on display at a museum - but they are half buried. I started asking myself questions about the painting. Who were these people? What were they searching for? Are those dragon bones? Why are they intact but half buried? About the same time, I came across an article about microraptors that really inspired me and voila, I began writing a story about the unearthing of kotrakoy, the cursed beasts of Ali'ikiswan. How did you develop the plot and your characters? Are your characters based on anyone? DB: I attended FantasyCon. An editor there complained that no one was writing about conflicts between tech societies and magical societies. I spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about that and researching a tech society that wouldn't overwhelm a magical society if they were at war. By surprise, I ended up writing about a steampunk society warring with a magical society, but that wasn't creative enough for me. I wanted something more interesting than a simple political conflict so I started looking for a character I hadn't seen in literature I'd read before. Brandon Sanderson thinks like this so I took a page from his book, so to speak. I ended up with a self-exiling, powerless mage who stumbled upon the scene I described above, which in turn became one of a few precipitating events to begin a war between the two societies. My characters are often based on someone. I usually pick a few of my own traits to create a foundation for my main character. I find this allows me to more intuitively know how he or she will react to events and it allows me to write more authentically. All of us have several character traits so it is easy to choose a few and rotate for each book. I took a course by David Farland about character development that helped me tremendously with Unproven. I spent time with each character, asking myself who they were most like (using people I know). Then, I asked questions about how they felt about what the main character was doing, how loyal they could be to the main character, how their motivations aligned with the main character and how they might run into conflict with the main character's aspirations. After exploring these and many similar questions, I ended up with characters that were fairly well flushed out and with subplots that made the story much more interesting. Do you write when you're inspired? Or do you have a schedule you keep to? DB: Both. When I can write every day, I usually feel very inspired and happy to write. The only times I'm not inspired to write are when something bad is happening in my personal life that keeps me from being able to slip into fantasy land ... and frankly, that takes a lot. So, I try to keep a schedule. When I'm not on a schedule, I find myself getting more and more anxious to write so when the time arrives that I can sit down to write, I'm more than ready and the juices are flowing. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? Maybe a piece of advice that stuck with you from your adventure into the world of publishing? DB: There are many things required of authors in today's society. Even if you find a traditional publisher, you'll likely need to learn how to market on your own or else your sales may lag. My advice is to take a step back, look at the big picture, and learn everything there is to learn about the industry, whether that is how to write an engaging query letter or how to use effective keywords on Amazon or how to avoid using too many plot cliches while keeping your story grounded in familiar tropes that audiences are looking for. Everyone has their own unique weaknesses so don't be afraid to find yours and tackle it. For me, that's been marketing and not writing too high brow. For others, it may be writing a story that is truly unique. Whatever it is, don't allow yourself to be blind to your weakness or to use excuses that allow you to remain in that weakness. Tell us a bit more about yourself. How did you know you wanted to be a writer? Who or what inspires you to write? DB: I took a creative writing class in high school and realized that this was something I really enjoyed. As life's journey progressed, I found myself telling bedtime stories to my children and wanting to write them down so I wouldn't forget. Then, I started writing on Wattpad with my daughter to support her efforts. By surprise, I found myself #2 on Wattpad and writing furiously to publish at least one chapter per week to keep fans happy. That was it. I was hooked. I don't know what inspires me to write. I could say art or stories or other things that inspire stories in me but what inspires me to want to write in the first place ... that is too deeply philosophical for me to answer. What makes you like chocolate? I don't care for chocolate but many people are really passionate about it. I've written a dozen books. I literally have five or six others in progress (some non-fiction as well as fiction). I focus on one to ensure it gets finished but others are very close to my conscious mind, begging for their turn. I don't know what makes me like that. DNA. Spirit. OCD. All three. Who knows? How much of yourself goes into your writing? Or do you keep yourself separate and base the character on someone else entirely? DB: Both. What I relish the most about writing is putting myself in someone else's head and trying to think like them. Even when I base a character on myself, I give him/her traits that are very different from me and I put them in situations I'd never be in so I have to think like they think. For instance, I'd never really think, "which spell will help me get out of this situation safely?" but when I'm writing, I think those thoughts frequently. I first realized this was a very enjoyable thing about writing when I wrote a chapter from an aging black dragon's perspective. That was probably the most engaging chapter I've ever written from an author's point of view. It changed my world. What has helped shape and improve your writing? DB: Masterclasses and the Great Courses and other writing course. I'm constantly taking new courses to hone my skills and to make me think from a different perspective. What are you reading right now? Do you recommend it or have any other recommendations? DB: Tagana. I'm not sure if I'd recommend it or not. It's a best seller so it must have something worthy of attention but it's a bit slow moving right now. I know better than to give up on a novel like that (though I did give up on Name of the Wind because it didn't feel like it had a plot after 100 pages) so I'll keep reading but so far, it's only okay. A few months ago I read This Mortal Coil. That was a fun read and it was mostly very creative. Bonus Questions: Do your novels carry a message or do you feel it's subjective? DB: My novels definitely carry messages, though I don't always plot them out. Unproven, for example, deals with mental illness as a subplot but I never planned that. It just happened. My wife had been recently diagnosed with a severe mental illness so it was hounding my subconsciousness, I guess. Other themes can similarly be unintentional. Usually, I discover them while doing a broad edit and enhance them so that they are more meaningful and usually, I try to keep them subtle anyway. What works best for you: Typewriters, fountain pen, dictate, computer or longhand? DB: Scrivener. Hands down. Genre: Historical Fantasy Publisher: Purple Toga Publications Publication Date: September 1, 2018 Pages: 362 Add to Goodreads Synopsis This is the second story of Togas, daggers, and Magic – for lovers of Ancient Rome, Hard-boiled detectives, and Urban Fantasy. A rich landlord finds tenants are abandoning his apartment buildings, spouting tales of horrific events and whispering that the old gods - the numina - came alive and cursed the buildings. Enter Felix, a professional fox. Dressed in a toga and armed with a dagger, Felix is neither a traditional detective nor a traditional magician - but something in between. Whenever there is a foul business of bad magic, Felix is hired to sniff out the truth. Now he must separate fact from superstition - a hard task in a world where the old gods still roam the earth. In Numina is set in a fantasy world. The city of Egretia borrows elements from a thousand years of ancient Roman culture, from the founding of Rome to the late empire, mixed with a judicious amount of magic. Where to Buy About the Author Assaph has had his nose in a book since he was five, so it wasn’t surprising that he turned to writing. All those years reading on ancient Rome, sci-fi, fantasy, and mysteries while practicing various martial arts, travelling the world, and working odd jobs lead to some interesting combinations in his stories. Connect with Assaph
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September 2022
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