Category Archives: Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

A Place for me to showcase and spotlight YOU! Reblogs, Reposts, and Spotlights on other Authors, Bloggers, Photographers, etc. Because YOU make it all possible.

Crowman by David Rae – A Masterpiece of #EpicFantasy, #Myths&Legends & #ConceptualFiction

27 Tuesday Oct 2020

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Touch the light. Hold the light. The light burns. The light runs away. Hold the light. Lock the light away.

The great spirit Vatu keeps the Sun in a box, where no thief can steal it. Once a year, the box is opened and life springs across the dark lands. The whole world belongs to Vatu. He is darkness, he is master of all. There is no hiding from him.

But Utas must try, for his daughter’s sake. She is sick from darkness, and yet she glows with a mysterious light. If Vatu can find them, he will destroy them, or worse, drag them back into his mad, dark world. Torn between duty and mercy, between justice and freedom, Utas tries to escape, but it seems inevitable that the darkness will reclaim him.

For the greatest mercy and the greatest punishment Utas can suffer is to return to his true self.

My 5-Star Review!

I was intrigued by this metaphysical dark fantasy from the moment I read the description. Uniquely named characters and concepts drew me in immediately and filled my mind with questions and lush imagery…a masterful book blurb to say the least!

Vatu, the great spirit of darkness. I could see him, an ethereal and all-consuming shadow intent upon absolute control. Utas, the hopeful apparition fleeing from himself, and his beautiful daughter who is delicate and mysterious. Their plight pulled me along. I was invested in their harrowing journey, their disappointments, their hopes. Symbolism and spirituality are illustrated like characters, filling the narrative with thought-provoking themes that made me pause and consider.

As father and daughter make their way, they are joined by a melange of artfully created characters: Erroi, the warrior, whose body and spirit are independent of each other and who travels in dreams. He is beautifully silent and deliciously mysterious. Mukito, a boy whose cruel stepfather has left him few alternatives other than thievery. The innocent Zintoa, and noble Eskanza. The characters are elaborate, simple, fully-developed, flawed and entirely captivating.

The narrative is rich with unfamiliar people and places, intriguing me page after page. Dialog forms much of the story, yet there are descriptions that whisk the reader away. Poetic tangles of dream-like reveries adorn the journey, some so intricate and imaginative I simply had to read them again….and again! There were times I wasn’t sure what was reality and what wasn’t and I was reminded of an episode of STNG, ‘Masks’, where the hunt of Masaka and Korgano parallels the birth of Athena at the Parthenon.

Mythological and magical, Rae’s Crowman is a masterpiece of epic fantasy, conceptual and allegorical fiction in which I would willingly immerse myself book after book after book.

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David Rae lives in the West of Scotland. He lives in a world of his own; a world of wonder, a world where hoards of workers spill out of factories, a world were fog and smoke shroud all kinds of creatures, a world where ruined castles, factories and houses were haunted by ghosts, gangs and memories. He lives in world where witches have been burned at the cross and martyrs have been hung on the Gallowgreen. He writes poetry and short stories and reads every trashy novel, every children’s book and every comic that comes his way.

He studied Botany, Architecture, Mathematics, Computers, Geography, and Ecology. He worked in a sweetie factory, as a scaffolder and ditch digger. He worked as draftsman and as an ecologist, as a statistician and as a policy maker. H is married and has four children, lovely children and now lovely grandchildren. And He continues to read and to write and marvel at the world He live in.

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Find David on Amazon

Find David on GoodReads

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~Morgan~

An Unusual Boy- #Interview with #BestSelling #Author #FionaHiggins

22 Thursday Oct 2020

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Meet Jackson. A very unusual boy in world that prefers ‘normal’.

Julia Curtis is a busy mother of three, with a husband often away for work, an ever-present mother-in-law, a career, and a house that needs doing up. Her only son, Jackson, is different. Different to his sisters. Different to his classmates. In fact, Jackson is different from everyone around him – and bringing up a child who is different isn’t always easy. Then, one Monday morning, an incident at school changes everything; not only for Jackson, but for every member of his family. Julia faces the fight of her life to save her unusual boy from a world set up for ‘normal’.

Bestselling novelist Fiona Higgins returns with a heart-stopping, devastating, but ultimately uplifting story about loyalty, love and forgiveness.

An extraordinary boy. The mother who loves him. The fight of their lives.

Fiona Higgins is the author of four fiction titles and a memoir. She works in the not-for-profit sector and lives in Sydney, Australia, with her stoic husband, three rambunctious children and two aloof goldfish.

Hello Fiona, Thanks ever so much for stopping by to chat with BnV about your new book.  Lets dive right in!  What do you love most about Writing?

I love that writing is an almost magical form of ‘primary production’; writers produce something out of nothing, using only their internal resources.

How did you get your start writing?

Young! As a child, I always loved words – and I still remember, aged nine, the heady rush of winning a poetry competition.  My slightly quirky entry, entitled ‘Ya Local Truckie’, explored the stigma endured by overnight truck drivers. My poem evidently caught the judges’ eye – even though I wasn’t from a trucking family!

What Inspired you to write your book?

I’ve known many children – and adults, for that matter – who are ‘different’ in some way (some with a diagnosis, many without), and witnessed their joys and struggles. An Unusual Boy explores the great strength and beauty that lies in difference, and the healing power of empathy.

I love that.  I believe Empathy, Forgiveness and Kindness are great healers.  Because you have a spiritual perspective, do you have a preferred POV that you write from and why?

In An Unusual Boy, I write from two POVs – that of Julia (Jackson’s mother), as well as Jackson himself. It was quite a thrilling experience, tapping into the stream of consciousness of an eleven-year-old boy! (Two of my three children are boys, which helped me channel the pre-teen male.) Despite understanding Julia’s perspective better, I preferred the colourful, imaginative world of Jackson.

Do your characters dictate what or how your write in any way?

Yes, that’s quite normal for me. They often surprise me. In An Unusual Boy, one of the characters delivered a twist that even I didn’t see coming.

That’s happened to me too.  Although it’s often hard to select just one, do you have a favourite or least favourite character?

Definitely Jackson. He’s a composite of all the wonderful, vulnerable, interesting and quirky children I’ve ever known. Jackson reminds me of a friend of mine from school, Michael, to whom An Unusual Boy is dedicated.

What sets them apart from the others?

Jackson has a strong moral compass – of which the rest of the world is mostly unaware – that governs his choices, as well as some incredible hidden strengths unlockable with a little patience and empathy.

As a successful author, do you have any tips for an aspiring Author?

Write what consumes you.

I so agree.  Outside of writing, what type of book do you like to read and does this differ from the genre that you prefer to write?

 I am a huge fan of fantasy and sci-fi genres, which are wildly different to my genre of contemporary fiction.

Is there a book you consider a must-read- why?

As a writer, one book I always return to is Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott. She has some very solid, practical (and humorous) advice for writers.

I’ll have to look for that one!  I’m always looking for my next new thing to learn 🙂 

Thank you so much for sharing your time and talent with BnV.

You can find Fiona across these social media networks

Author links

Website

Facebook

Instagram:  @fionahigginsauthor

Book link

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~Morgan~

Playing in the Rain – An Inescapably Claustrophobic, Diabolically Mind-spinning Ride!

05 Monday Oct 2020

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When the effects of a hypnosis inducing drug fade, April slowly begins a conscious awakening. Memories of her past are unclear and she has no recollection of her identity or her whereabouts.

As the days slip by, April realizes there is more to life than existing when she is introduced to an occupant who does just that—her sister. The more she learns about her environment the more she wants to escape.

Will April remember her past, her sister? Will she have the courage to leave? And if she does, where will she go?

Experience through April’s eyes her struggle to remember and her determination to escape in this sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, suspense story.

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My Review – 5-Stars

You awake in an unknown environment.  You can’t remember who you are or where you’re from, but you know where you are now is not where you ought to be.  You feel trapped, because you are. You feel alone, because ….because…You can’t remember why, but you know you weren’t alone before.  Before waking up whereever you currently are.
Lead character, A2, is in a facility called C.E.C.I.L:  the Contagion Eradication Center for Intelligent Life.  There is a man named Jasper there, who provides and controls everything, including the drugs she is being pumped full of, because ….because….she doesn’t know why.  Danger and mystery meld with confusion and hazy memories of a life she only barely recalls.  A2 meets B2, and they discover they were sisters, before….before whatever happened that brought them here….whereever they are, though neither know why.
 Jackson’s first book in the Escape Series, Playing in the Rain:  When All That Matters is Freedom pulls you right into the story from page one, slowly yet inexorably, leaving you as dazed and confused as A2.  Page after deliciously-mystifying page, you follow A2 and B2 as their situation goes from bad to worse, yet gets better and better.  If you love immersing yourself into a story body and soul, where you can end up exhausted from the remarkable confusion the author maintains chapter after chapter, dragging you and her characters along an unforseen path to an undisclosed conclusion while spinning in a web of intrigue that will leave everyone ensnared and gasping for breath, then prepare yourself.  This one will not disappoint you.
It will not give up its secrets quickly or easily, either.
Settle in and prepare for the inescapably claustrophobic, diabolically mind-spinning ride of your life!
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A graduate of a 3-year Graphic Design program, Sandra J. Jackson has always been creative, from drawing and painting to telling stories to her children when they were young. Her wild imagination lends itself to new and exciting ideas.

Sandra’s debut novel, Promised Soul, was originally released in 2015 by her former publisher. A short story, Not Worth Saving, was published in New Zenith Magazine’s 2016 fall issue. She also has had several sports articles published in a local newspaper. She holds a professional membership with the Canadian Author Association and is a member of Writers’ Ink. Sandra’s second novel, Playing in the Rain – Book 1 of the Escape Series, released in September 2017 also by the same former publisher.

Sandra lives with her family in a rural setting in Eastern, Ontario. She is currently working on Book 3 of the Escape Series, her first trilogy.

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~Morgan~

The A.S.K. Principle

03 Saturday Oct 2020

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I am convinced that everyone prays. Even an atheist has a way of expressing their needs to someone or something other than themselves.  They too need help through difficult times.  There is something deep within every human being that cries out for help. When trouble comes our way or when someone we know is going through struggles, we reach out.  Major religions around the world each have their own view of what prayer should consist of.  There are also many ideas on how prayer should be delivered.  Some require a set schedule of prayer, while for others it’s more a form of meditation.  Prayer is a vital element of the human soul.

I was raised in church.  My mom was the church secretary in a small congregational church in Massachusetts when we were growing up.  We had to be in church!  I sang in the children’s choir. Our family was involved in everything that went on at church. At 13, I was confirmed and started being a teachers helper in Sunday School.  A friend and I ran a small teen hangout in the church for a while. We were at church a lot  

We learned to pray at an early age.  Reciting our bedtime prayers and praying over meals were the two ways we practiced.   But when I reached the rebellious age of 16, I wandered away from church and set out on a road of self-destruction.  Drugs, alcohol, sex, and parties were all that seemed to matter.  Church was ignored.  Even then, I can remember praying at certain times.  It is something that stuck with me even when I was away from God.  I wasn’t even sure at times who I was praying to.  I just knew I had to call out to something greater then myself. 

In 1976, I made a trip to Iowa.  We attended a service earlier in the week.  The preacher had me convinced I was going to hell, and I knew I did not want to go there!  The night before I was going to head home, my friends pastor came to his trailer.  There, in my best friend’s mobile home, I prayed the sinners’ prayer.  I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior.

I was saved that night.  Upon returning to Massachusetts, I started attending that same congregational church I grew up in.  Two years later, on a return trip to Iowa, I met my future wife and moved to Iowa in 1978.   We were married by years end.  Three children and five great grandchildren have come along and we will soon be celebrating 40 years together.

This was a time when I really started to grow in the Lord and learn His ways.  I was focused on building a family and growing in the Lord.  Long hours were spent in prayer and in the word.  Reading through the bible several years in a row brought understanding.  Studying things I did not understand were all priorities of mine.  Seeking God for wisdom was at the top of my list during those years.  I became a worship leader in my small church.  Some lay ministry and prison outreach occurred.   I developed a prayer life, but I always sensed there was a lot more than I currently realized.

What is prayer?  When should we pray?  How should we pray?   Why should we pray?  How can we pray effectively?  I had so many questions about prayer through these years of my walk with the Lord that I decided to study and learn for myself.  In 1990 I earnestly sought the Lord with these questions and developed the basics for what I thought would eventfully be a book.  After finishing the study, it sat on a shelf at home.  Recently, those notes were found in a house cleaning session.  I decided to take another look at it and make it book ready.  Ideas and concepts were added that I learned since the original study. I used this on my blog over a period of a month to get feedback from fellow bloggers.  I was pleased it was so well received.

My desire is that together we can get a better understanding of the inner workings of prayer.  Many of you might know much of what I will share.  I hope all will gain new insights into their own prayer lives.  

I pray this book will strengthen the kingdom of God in these last days.  I pray it will glorify God for the wonderful gift of prayer that He has given us.    We desperately need an outpouring of effective prayer in our world today.  I pray this book will start a tsunami of prayer that will sweep the church, our nation and our world.

If you would like a copy of “The A.S.K. Principle” it is available on Amazon or Barnes & Noble and also through my web site at www.theaskprinciple.com

#Orators of the #ModernAge – An Insight into #AudioBook #Narrators and #VoiceOverArtists

30 Wednesday Sep 2020

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Audio books.  We love them or we hate them, there’s usually not a lot of middle ground, but regardless of our love-hate relationship, the completion of an audio book project is a journey not many have taken.  Fewer yet are the interviews with audio book narrators.  We know little to nothing about these orators of the modern age who fill our lives with complex stories, tales of woe and strife, steamy romance or the inconceivable.  This is why, after working the narrator who is currently transforming Dark Fey into an audio marvel (if I do say so myself!), I decided to spotlight her.

So without further ado, please meet  Jessica Gober.  Jess is a lover of all things book related. From an early age, she discovered that books and stories could transport her to places like the world of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and the cabbage patch. Since then, she’s been on a never-ending reading journey. Her vocal talents were acquired while attending Northern Arizona University for a degree in Theatre Performance. She has done voice-overs for plays like Why We Have a Body and various student films. Her audiobook recordings include The Dark Fey Trilogy, Dust and Roses, and a book of poetry titled Blue Crayon.

Hi Jess 🙂  Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat with us.  Let’s dive right in, shall we? What prompted you to begin narrating/ doing voice overs?   I was a theatre major in college and often did voice-overs for plays and small projects for my friends. One day, a co-worker of mine heard a mock up of an advertisement I had created for a class and said, “You know, you have a great voice for audiobooks. You should look into that!” I thought to myself, “Now why didn’t I think of that?!”

What sorts of preparations do you undertake before recording?   Before narrating I read through the piece of writing to help me understand the feel of the characters, voices and mood of the piece. Then, I prepare a giant tankard of coffee and get underway!

Is there specific information you prefer to have that helps you in the creation of a character?   Age and where they are from mostly. The needs of the character usually come out in the first couple of chapters of the reading.

What do you like the most and least about the narrating process?   I enjoy getting to explore new books. I am a bibliophile to the core and love to get a chance to read. The editing process is a beast. Listening for every accidental beep of a watch or click of a fingernail on a surface is tedious work!

Not to mention time consuming, I bet.  Just how long does it take to record a chapter and/or complete a project?   Dependent upon the length of the chapter, it can take anywhere from twenty to fifty minutes to record a chapter. Editing that chapter will usually take about double the time it took to record it.

So basically a chapter can usually take about 3 hours to complete.  Who knew!  I imagine you didn’t realize that when you started out.  What other things do you know now that you wish you would have known before you started?    I don’t really think there is much I wish I had known previously. Each opportunity is to learn something new is a gift and our struggles are what lead us to that higher learning.

Do you have any tips to help prospective narrators?   Take your time and really feel what you are creating. If you are not satisfied with the recording, feel justified in starting over. In the end, you are producing something that will make you proud.

I feel much the same way about writing.  In the end, I want to be proud of what I’ve written.  With so many options out there, is there a certain type of character that is easiest for you? Or most difficult?   Very demure characters are difficult for me. I don’t relate to characters that could come across as wimpy, so I really have to dig deep to make them come to life. I love a good strong-willed character who finds their strength through struggle.

Like Gairynzvl! You’ve brought him to life in an amazing way I never anticipated.  Now I understand how you did it. Is it the same with genre?  Do you lean towards a specific genre or find some easier than others?   I love science fiction, fantasy, and historical fiction.

Is there a genre you wouldn’t choose to narrate?    There is a lot of erotica to be read and, though I have no problem with the genre, as a full-time public educator, I don’t feel it would be appropriate for me to narrate something overtly sexual and put it in a public forum where my students or parents might stumble across it!

I agree.  I’ve been asked to collaborate on several erotica projects and have declined for similar reasons.  Well, I have to say Im very glad you gave us an insight into the world of the narrator…or perhaps to be more accurate, voice-over artist.  You spend so much time on other people’s stories, Thanks so much for sharing YOURS.

Jess has done a marvelous job creating the realms of Jyndari and the Uunglarda for Dark Fey, not to mention bringing the characters to life!  If you’re intrigued, I have several copies of Dark Fey The Reviled available on Audible that are currently FREE!  Just let me know you’d like one!

Or find The Reviled on Audible

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~Morgan~

 

 

#Celts and the Mad Goddess: A #Spellbinding #Fantasy Thrill Ride Through Time.

27 Sunday Sep 2020

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Do you enjoy Fantasy, Celtic culture, Goddesses and Magic?  P.C. Darkcliff’s fantastic Historical Fiction is Sleeping Beauty and Faust all rolled up into one!

A young Celtic woman called RAWENA runs into an army of Germanic invaders. The soldiers pursue her, but she shakes them off and hides in a vast swamp. There she awakens the Goddess PANDEMIA, who has been sleeping for millennia. The meeting shocks Rawena, but Pandemia also wonders: she thought she wiped all humans out with pestilence.

Pandemia plots to destroy humanity to preserve other animal species. She wants Rawena to infect her tribe and spread the plague around the world. When Rawena begs her to spare her, Pandemia gives in… but she orders Rawena to bring another human to the swamp.

Rawena seeks GARUX, a tribesman she loves, hoping that he would catch a Germanic scout and bring him to Pandemia. That’s when she realizes that Garux loves her younger sister ARVASIA.

Mad with jealousy, Rawena kidnaps Arvasia and drags her toward the swamp. When Garux attacks her in the woods, Rawena stabs herself through the heart.

The Celts bury her, but Pandemia brings her back to life and makes her immortal. She turns Rawena into a pawn in a mad game: Rawena must unleash pestilence whenever somebody stabs her through the heart. If she doesn’t, Pandemia would turn her into an eternal rat and trap her in the swamp. The same fate would await Rawena if she let someone behead her or burn her to ashes.

Fearing that the Celts would burn her as an evil spirit, Rawena seduces ORTAVER, the Germans’ high commander, and asks him for protection.

The Germans overtake the Celtic town. They imprison Garux, who has recently become the chieftain, and enslave the tribe.

Four years later, just as the Celts start a revolt, Rawena dresses as a Germanic jailer to free Garux—and Arvasia sneaks into the prison and spears her heart. As a battle breaks out, Rawena crawls into safety. Pandemia mends her and gives her a month to unleash the plague.

Garux and Arvasia look for her all over Bohemia but cannot find her. The king refuses to help them; their druidess fails to reclaim Rawena’s soul. And the Germans plot revenge.

Pandemia tells Rawena that Ortaver and the remnants of his army have settled in an abandoned Celtic village. Rawena joins them there and infects Ortaver with her pestilential blood. Just before he dies, Ortaver spreads the plague among his men.

The Celts corral the Germans and contain the outbreak, but Arvasia falls gravely ill. Although she fears it’s the plague, it’s only morning sickness. Garux and Arvasia rejoice about the pregnancy. Then Arvasia miscarries.

They corner Rawena and are about to behead her to prevent her from causing another outbreak, but Pandemia rushes to save her. Before she takes Rawena away, Pandemia tells Garux and Arvasia that their baby died of the plague. And that she made them immortal to witness Rawena’s work of doom.

Garux and Arvasia swear they will not rest until they destroy Rawena and defy Pandemia. 

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BIO

When he was in kindergarten, P.C. managed to convince his classmates that his grandma was a tribal shamaness. Then he learned his letters, and kidding his friends no longer seemed adequate—so he started to write.

Apart from Celts and the Mad Goddess, P.C. has published two standalone novels and an anthology. His short stories have been featured in various publications.

He has lived in six countries and on three continents. Although ruinous to his bank account, the seminomadic lifestyle has been hugely inspirational, and many of his adventures have spilled into his stories. He and his wife have settled in southern Spain, where he goes swimming and cycling whenever he isn’t too busy writing.

Join his VIP reader list to get his debut novels for free!

Find him everywhere on social media in one click

Website

PURCHASE LINKS: Amazon  OR  Other ebook retailers
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I would like to thank P.C. Darkcliff for sharing his amazing story with BnV and WMM.  (Word Mongery and Musings!)  It’s always a delight to share new books by new authors : )
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~Morgan~

Jaspar the Amazon Parrot – An #Interview with a #YABook #ChildrensBook #Writer

26 Saturday Sep 2020

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Jasper is no ordinary parrot.

He lives in the rainforest, which secrets he’s eager to explore. Jasper loves his home and his family, and he’s also in charge of his younger brother Willie – a responsibility Jasper takes very seriously.

When he meets Charlie – a spider monkey with a penchant for food and a laid back attitude – he realizes he’s in for an adventure he never thought possible.   Even if this means getting into danger and worrying his mother to no end.

Exploring the boundaries of the forest, Jasper understands that there is more to the world around him. Who are the strange new creatures that have come there? With Willie and Charlie by his side, he will soon find out.

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Sharon C. Williams is a native of New England and was raised in Northern Maine. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, son and a flock of birds.

Sharon has a B. S. degree in Chemistry. Plus, an A.S. degree in Biology and in Math. She loves to read, sketch, take pictures, walk, exercise, go to the movies, and listen to music. She is a budding bird watcher, and knits on the side. She is a huge sports fan of baseball, basketball, hockey, and football. She is also a shutterbug and is always looking for the next big shot.

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Hi Sharon…let’s dive right in, shall we?  Tell us what do you love most about Writing? I love the freedom it gives me. You can write about anything you want. All one has to do is look around, feel or do a picture or word prompt. Literally all I have to do is be observant. Making things up out of thin air is magical. I guess it is hard to explain the love I have inside when I write. Perhaps only other writers might get it. It’s pure joy. It’s just hard to explain but yes, pure joy.

I entirely understand!  How did you get your start writing?  My husband had told a friend of mine earlier that he felt I wrote well. Upon her telling me this I thought to myself, “Why not?” I started seriously writing in the Fall of 2009. I had a story in my head that would not let me rest. Having two surgeries at the end of 2009, non-related, gave me a lot of free time to put to paper the story.

What Inspired you to write your book? I started with the idea of writing a book for any future grandchildren I might have. Thinking on  what kind of story to even begin with I literally looked around my house. I was hoping for something to hit me in the face.

Laying my eyes on him it hit me. Jasper. You see I live with my main character. How many people can say that? He is our Amazon Yellow Cheek parrot who we rescued and adopted in 1999 at the age of five.  Knowing I could use my knowledge of birds it just meshed together for me to connect the dots.  Learning about where he is from, the Amazon rainforest, made me want to write about the issues there. Plus, I wanted to engage kids in entertainment and also educate them at the same time.

Pets are such a blessing…and in this case, not only to you! Thats awesome.  So, when you’re writing, are you a painstaking plotter or are you a discovery writer? I’m a discovery writer. I love letting my characters decide where my manuscript goes. I also don’t want to take the time to plot. I feel, as far as I am concern, that it restricts my creativity. I love to free style. Majority of my books have arrived from me free styling.

Although it’s often hard to select just one, do you have a favourite or least favourite character?   You’re right, it is hard. But I would go with my main character, Jasper.  This is do to the close connection and interactions I have with him. We rescued and adopted him in 1999 at the age of five. He has been with us for 20 years now.  He is truly a special animal. His personality and his mannerisms are all over this series. So you see I was already in love with him prior to writing the book.

Ok, that was kind of a gimmie.  How about tips for aspiring writers…what would you best advice be? Believe in yourself and your book. Sometimes you might be the only one who does.

I say that too, but it’s so true.  If you don’t love your book, who else will?  Besides your own, what types of books do you like to read and does this differ from the genre that you prefer to write? I grew up loving horror and mystery. That has not changed. I always been someone who love watching horror films and that just translate to books. Being from Maine I am fortunate to have the great one, Stephen King, in my mist. The genre I prefer to write in is a hard one to answer. I write in a variety of genres and they all excite me- children’s, (I’m known for this one), true life, comedy and action and adventure.

As a writer, but also a reader, is there a book you consider a must-read- and if so, why?   Story Engineering by Larry Brooks. In fact anything by him will help you in some way. I had never heard of writing a book in the way he breaks it down in such an effective form. I just about highlighted the entire book and earmarked the rest. His methods are simple but just so effective.

OK, here’s the hard one…at least, I think so…what is the hardest part of editing- grammar checks, reducing content, or something else? For me it would be grammar checks. I am too good at using past tense and the misuse of commas in my WIPs. But the real hard part is I hate to edit. I rather be writing away coming up with characters, plots and conflict than to take time and work on edits.    I am not one of those authors who edit as I write. I rather just write. So when it comes to this part of the puzzle I am filled with dread.

And just because ….Do you have a Mantra- a Quote you try to live by?  Love your book like no other. If you don’t love it why will anyone else?

I’d like to thank Sharon for sharing her stories about Jaspar with us.  The series sounds perfect for YA readers…or anyone who wants a smile of a read 🙂  

Please look for Sharon’s books on Amazon

Sharon’s Author Page

Goodreads

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~Morgan~

Behind the Scenes with S.J.Hartland, #Author of #DarkFantasy The Shadow Sword Series

13 Sunday Sep 2020

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S.J. Hartland is an Australian journalist, emerging epic fantasy author, and foil fencer (Cyrano club in Sydney,) who has spent too many holidays wandering around obscure castles, and is obsessed with anything medieval.  She is originally from Townsville, north Queensland, lived in Sydney for many years, and now calls the Darling Downs home.  She recently chatted with me about her Shadow Sword series and gave me some juicy behind the scenes insights!

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I wrote the early drafts of The Sword Brotherhood when I was in a very dark place. Depression, anxiety, which I’m at times prey to, struck that year. Writing became a “flow” activity which helped me fight free of overwhelming emotions.

Roaran’s journey, his suffering as his enemy’s prisoner, became an odd sort of mirror for me. His battle was as much against his past, his feelings of despair and hopelessness, as it was against his captors. My battle, too, was to find meaning and a way forward.

In that sense, Roaran’s jailer, Raggamirron, in the early drafts became a psychologist of sorts to Roaran, leading him on a path that today we might think of as “mindfulness.”

Yet in the end, most of those chapters had to go; in fact more than half disappeared into a desktop folder called “dropped chapters.”

The Sword Brotherhood, however, remains a dark book. Because it’s Roaran’s story, because it’s about his path to redemption and self-acceptance, it was always going to be the darkest in the Shadow Sword series.

Although the first in the series, The 19th Bladesman, was at its heart about fatherhood and letting go of power, redemption is a key theme across The Shadow Sword books. Characters often have to confront guilt or shame. But to balance that out, almost as a result of the darker feelings, characters can find hope or acceptance, or simply a way to go on.

Val’s path in The Last Seer King is particularly disturbing. Not only does a sorceress strip him bare emotionally and psychologically, but she forces him to confront his long-buried past. I tried to balance his despair in recounting what happened to him in a tower room centuries ago with Heath’s desire to free Val from his pain.

As Heath says, they could have been friends, with all that friendship offers. Hope. Freedom. Understanding, even comfort. A different kind of love–something I think is rarely explored.

Sometimes I wonder if these themes reassert themselves because I’m a Methodist, going back generations on both sides of the family.

I’m interested in guilt, in how it shapes us, but at the same time, I’m a deep believer that all of us can be redeemed–even Roaran, the Seer King, whose actions had to make sense even if we can’t agree with his choices. Even Genya, who acts out of anger and hurt and costs others their lives.

Her journey into darkness has only begun. Dannon, too, has important lessons to learn in the forthcoming The Sword and its Woman and the fifth book, loosely titled Broken Kingdom.

The Sword and its Woman is set largely in Quisnaf, a city of caves ruled by warrior women. I’ve tried to reverse every gender role I can think of in what is largely a Val tale. In Quisnaf, his worth is no longer measured in his ability with the sword, his classical education, or his position as a lord of Telor, but in his handsome face and his ability to provide children.

Perhaps it’s a risky book; it certainly takes Val in a new direction. He may find something he didn’t expect. But then he will lose it. Of course he will. When am I ever kind to characters?

The book also introduces one of my favourite characters, Rohane, a cursed berserker warrior of Quisnaf.

But before that, I’ve got the first in a new series coming out. Blade Lord is the story of Decallion and Sinnabar. He’s the only blade lord whose soul is not tethered to a ruling family in the distant Circle Kingdoms, which not only makes him valuable but puts him in grave danger. She’s a fura, or enforcer for the temple.

To save Decallion, Sinnabar will rebel against the temple and travel to the lawless Guildlands. She’ll risk her life and her soul. But, Decallion, cursed by magic, is destined to never remember her.

Although set in a dangerous world where the menace of the Shadow Kingdom across the fiery abyss pervades the realm, there are links in Blade Lord back to the world of Telor.

If I get it right, ultimately both series will fold together in a bizarre way.

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My 5-Star Review of The Sword Brotherhood

The Sword Brotherhood is the third book in The Shadow Sword series by Susan Hartland. Having not read book one or two, I had some research to do in order to full appreciate book three. The book opens with the lead, Roaran, a prisoner of the lead villain Archanin., who was once his ally, but now wants Roaran to lay his secrets bare. Of course, Roaran endures with determination. The dark imagery and torture is distressing, but immensely effective. I connected with Roaran, I felt the pain of his betrayal and I couldn’t wait to see him liberated.

The Sword Brotherhood combines riveting action and intensely, visceral scenes from page one! While Archanin keeps Roaran imprisoned in a castle protected by magic trying to extract dangerous information that could change the fate of the kingdoms, Dannon struggles to keep the Sword Brotherhood together. He enlists the help of a mighty sorceress, Genya, in an attempt to free Roaran and defeat Archanin, but secrets and savagery stands in their way.

Great fantasies explore the boundaries between ‘good and evil’, and offer glimpses into alternate realities, shaking us from our apathy and challenging our perceptions. The Shadow Sword series achieves this while seducing readers with elaborately crafted realms, enticing plot twists, and unexpected revelations into characters that beguile and disturb.

The Sword Brotherhood reveals a world tearing itself apart through manipulation, domination and subjugation, that was chillingly familiar.

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You can find Susan here

FACEBOOK

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Duty and love collide in this powerful epic fantasy about shattering loss, betrayal, and the price of power that will enthral fans of Game of Thrones, Blood Song and the Mistborn trilogy.  If you love dark plots, dark magic and characters with even darker secrets; pick up The 19th Bladesman, first in the sensational Shadow Sword series.

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For centuries, Roaran sought redemption. Now he can vanquish a tyrant and save a realm in chaos. But only if he cuts his last ties to humanity. Only if he returns to the one place he swore he’d never dare go again…

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A breathtaking, heart-pounding journey into darkness and the redemptive power of friendship.The darkest yet in the Shadow Sword saga, The Sword Brotherhood will enthral fans of this epic fantasy series from the author of the award-winning The 19th Bladesman.

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I want to Thank S.J. for taking time out of her busy schedule to give us some insights into her amazing story.  It certainly is a sweeping epic tale that has captivated me and I hope will intrigue you as well 🙂

 

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~Morgan~

 

 

 

The Superiority of Supporting Characters – An #Author’s Diatribe by Jake Lanum

10 Thursday Sep 2020

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I’ve never liked the protagonists in stories. Too often, they are just too gosh-darn graceful in adversity, as if they’re in the eye of a hurricane. People tend to reserve their love for “the proverbial Tyrion Lannister(s) and Aragorn(s) rather than the rounded (sometimes ugly) Hound(s)” and Boromir(s) of the world. From where I sit, the measure of a man is not in effortless perfection, but his struggle against adversity. Flaws and tribulation, internal and external, is what makes characters human, fallible, and worth rooting for. My quiet love affair with supporting characters drove the development of my own debut novel, Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen, in a few key ways.

 

  • You’ll Hate the Protagonist.

The main character in Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen is a young man named Wilhelm Geier. Readers spend quite a bit of time in Will’s head, and they’ll quickly learn that he, unlike most protagonists, is terrible. This is not an iteration of revisionist Disney origin stories which cast villains as misunderstood (see: Maleficent). He is a spoiled, drunken, man-child by design. Geier has few redeeming qualities, and is patently unworthy of any love of he receives from other characters (furthermore, unworthy of reader’s admiration). I made a deliberate choice to steer readers affections away from the main character and, based on the feedback I have received so far, it has worked.

 

  • You’ll Love the Antagonist.

Professional editors and reviewers who have read the book have all favored another character, called Roo. If not in reality, she is Will’s perceived antagonist. Roo is a Cimaroon, an escaped slave-turned-insurgent, in the Spanish Main. She is Will’s opposite. He was born into privilege, coddled, and externally motivated. In contrast, her traumatic past is an unexplored certainty. In the face of slavery and living for subsistence, she proves capable and cunning. She is internally motivated, but not at the expense of generosity or warmth.

 

  • But, in my Opinion, the Supporting Cast is Peerless.

 

Personally, I like Roo as well, but you’re supposed to. At the risk of being labelled a hipster, I think that superlative adoration for Roo is almost as cliché as fandom for Katniss or Harry Potter himself. So, I wanted to take a moment to share why my prospective readers should give “Ugly,” and “Drunk Johnny,” a fair shake.

 

“Ugly,” was a green sailor, much like Will, who might’ve been called Jim before life at sea.  Ugly had been a promising farrier’s apprentice at age ten, and had an unimpeachable work ethic, but had gotten kicked in the face by a mule. He was left disfigured, and developed a crippling fear of all large animals. His apprehension thrust him towards privateering, where he hoped the only horses he’d encounter would be seahorses. The former-farrier never fails to stand his post or deliver on his assigned shipboard duties, but landfall eventually brings him face-to-face with his greatest fears. In his moment of weakness, will he continue to deliver, or will he falter?

 

“Drunk Johnny” was an apt description for the seasoned drunk and veteran seaman who sailed with Will and Ugly. He lived in an impressively uninterrupted state of inebriation. He managed to wake and stand post as scheduled, but his aptitude for such was dubious. When we meet Johnny, he escapes punishment for his shoddy work by bribing his ranking officer, a glutton, with salted pork. He was a slightly built man with gaunt features, and a ghastly dental malady that ensured that every time he spat it came out a shade of brown or red, depending on the amount of blood in it. Despite his shortcomings, both in sobriety and virtue, Drunk Johnny is the most capable and functional alcoholic you will ever hear of. On multiple occasions in the book, Johnny proves himself to be a resourceful combatant, and an astounding marksman – redeeming qualities for a privateer. Unfortunately for Johnny, privateers are subject to high rates of attrition. There is no guarantee that the next Quartermaster will be swayed with extra rations of pork – there is no promise that his failings will continue to be overlooked.

 

I have always had a thing for supporting characters in books and movies. As the writer of Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen, I fell in love with Ugly and Drunk Johnny, and I hope that you will too. These are not vacuous placeholders, but they have backstories that leave a bit to the imagination. The balance of detail and omission in these characters, to me, makes them both complex and mysterious. At the same time, I invite you to read the book, and to disagree.

Biography

Jake Lanum has worked in corporate security, investigations, and intelligence since 2011. In this capacity he was interviewed by the Wall Street Journal, and eventually published an academic study in the American Psychological Association’s Journal of Threat Assessment and Management. At 30, Jake endeavored to undertake law school, and to write his first book, “Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen.” While Jake remains in steadfast pursuit of his Juris Doctor, the latter made its debut in Fall of 2020.

Reedsy: https://reedsy.com/discovery/user/jake-lanum

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakelanum/

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Synopsis

After the Spanish discovered the Americas, world powers endeavored to project naval power and occupy the promise-filled void. This gave rise to the golden age of privateering and piracy.

Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen is a fast-burning tale of maritime adventure. A cobbler’s son, Wilhelm “Will” Geier, joins an English privateer, Captain Drake, on a journey at the ends of the earth. In search of gold and glory, Will learns the trade. He hunts for subsistence in wildlands, finds allies in far-flung insurgencies, and struggles against the perils and threats looming in every navigable stream.

5- Star Review

Neither Officers Nor Gentlemen by Jake Lanum is a tale of old. A young man who feels as if everything should be given to him. It’s the year 1572, and Wilhelm Gaier is that seventeen-year-old young man. Will dreams of a lavish lifestyle and therefore purposely ruins every apprenticeship his father sets up for him. Will’s father is a cobbler, and he does work for the right Socialites to get him on a ship as a privateer.

Will struggles to grow up and mature, even with his new life. While raiding a village one night, they come into the company of Cimaroons. This is where we meet “Roo”. She is fluent in her native tongue but knows little English. She is very cunning, and Will admires her prowess skills. They became thick as thieves, inseparable as they steal from the Spaniards. Will devises a plan to help Roo.

My favorite character is Roo. She is different, in every way possible, but that does not stop her. She is herself and everyone loves her. In a world where women did not navigate the seas, let alone do anything other than be a Debutante, she gains the respect of all the men. They listen to her. She fights alongside them. She is not a sex object to them. She is one of them.

I am awarding this book 5 stars. It is well-written and well-edited. It does contain minor profanity, violence, and some nudity. The year in which our story takes place is 1572, so there are subjects like slavery and how people of color were treated, which could make this book inappropriate for young or immature readers. Being a sailor myself, I enjoyed this book and recommend it to mature readers who love a historical piracy novel. Who doesn’t like pirates?

REVIEWED BY

Nikki Libby at Discovery Reedsy
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I would very much like to thank Jake for taking the time to share his story and his insights with BnV.  Its always a delight to meet new authors and share their books!
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~Morgan~

Assassins Rising – A #ReverseInterview – One #Readers Thoughts on a #Dystopain #DarkFantasy

23 Sunday Aug 2020

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Aliens. Assassins. And the Apocalypse. They killed his mentor. They tried to kill him. And now, they are trying to kill her. Tortured by his past and uncertain of his future, the Assassin Core’s most promising apprentice, Aero, vows revenge on the time-shifting Anarchists, but soon finds himself caught in a web of lies, deceit and espionage. The Central District is under attack from above and within: the Alien Hosts have been silent for days, the Assassin’s Core has a mole, and when Aero discovers Fletcher, the man like a father to him dead, it’s all but too late and things spiral out of control. On the run, he encounters Astrid, the undefeated decagon champion who seems to be at the center of the murders, and despite his best efforts, seems to always be one step behind. They will have to risk it all if they hope to escape the Anarchist’s clutches-and if they fail, they’ll lose everything, including their lives… Hit “Buy Now” and start your ya scifi, cyberpunk journey today. ★★★★★ A short, heart-pounding thrill-a-minute, post-apocalyptic dystopia!

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Tell us your initial thoughts of Assassin Rising?

I don’t typically read much science fiction, but I do read a lot of dystopian futures. I loved the unique twist that Assassin Rising has, and how simple yet well thought through the characters are.

What was your favorite aspect of Assassin Rising?

I love how anything goes. Aliens, alternate universes, Neuralink technology, why not? It seems like it would be overpowering, but there is just a pinch of everything and it ties it together.

Who was your favorite character? Why?

Even though he was only in Assassin Rising shortly, I loved Ben. I loved how he interacted with the other characters, and was mature and professional enough to not lash out against Aero or respond to Aero trying to get a rise out of him.

Who was your least favorite? Why?

I don’t have a specific least favorite character, but I do remember when I first read through I had a dislike for Larissa. I’m not quite sure why, as reading through a second time, I see nothing that she did or say that would make me dislike her. In fact, after reading it again I have to say I like her character more, and loved how she interacted with the others in the second scene she’s in.

If you were to compare Assassin Rising to any other book, which would it be? And why?

I can’t really compare Assassin Rising to anything I’ve read before, as this is the first time I’ve read something like it! It’s something fresh and new, yet still has the dystopian aspect like in The Hunger Games.

Who would you recommend read Assassin Rising?

I would recommend Assassin Rising to people who love dystopian futures. I’ve already recommended it to a few friends who love books like Divergent, The Giver, and Legend. It’s not your typical dystopian storyline, but instead takes it and twists it into something new and exciting.

What sparked your interest in this story that made you want to read it?

The first sentence really pulled me in, but what really caught my interest was the tie in with events happening in our current year, how it affects the rest of the timeline, and how they deal with it.

What surprised you about the story that you didn’t expect?

I was not at all expecting the end of the book. The last few chapters were a big surprise, especially the thing with Astrid. I especially loved chapter 15, the final chapter, due to how different it is from most books and movies.

Which scene has lingered with you the most? Why?

I can’t stop thinking about the scene in chapter two, where we get a backstory for what has happened. I love how Assassin Rising talks briefly about COVID and nuclear wars. That scene also had me wondering about other things that were mentioned, and to top it all off, I loved the interactions between Ben and Aero.

If you could ask the author anything about the book, what would it be?

I’d love to learn more about the Sky Wars, as it’s just mentioned once or twice, enough to keep the reader interested and needing more information.

What are you hoping to see happen as the story moves forward?

As a tie in to the previous question, I’d love to dive deeper into the backstory of the Sky Wars, and learn what went down in 2044. I’d also love to read an interaction with the Hosts, and meet them

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Ryan Carriere broke out in 2019 with the bestselling Eternal Stones series and is back with a new sci-fi, time-travelling, cyberpunk dystopia!

Assassin Rising: 2044 The Alien Gene Project is the first novella in the series. Stay tuned for next in the series, coming out late 2020!

Find Ryan:
Books2Read

Website

Facebook

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~Morgan~

Penthara- A World Governed by Elements and Season – #Spectacular #EpicFantasy #BookReview

15 Saturday Aug 2020

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ENTER THE WORLD OF PENTHARA … a world governed by five elements and their five seasons …

The human kingdom of Barredom has been at war with the qindrid territories of Aggedon ever since the Qindrid Curse gripped the land. What were once humans are now grey-skinned, ageless, sleepless abominations, enhanced by the shadow element of their descendancy.

When the entire border army of Aggedon vanishes overnight, the obsessive General of Barredom orders the Westwalker, the infamous hunter of hunters, to investigate the disappearance. But the actions of men may test the resolve of the outsider who was long ago forced under the cursed transformation himself.

The new cycle of Kingfall proves worthy of its name when the savage elvan king of the Glace Isles is slain during an ambush. His elite war party, along with his three legendary axes, are deposited in the dungeons of the Frostdale Deeps, the domain of the Royal Inquisitor Honorah Bayn. Her task is to extract information from the enigmatic prisoners, but her desire is to exact revenge, and her lust for suffering is set to thwart the distracting aspirations of her unwitting son and daughter.

The unusual fortune of Barredom delivers one other gift when the leader of the Aggedonian qindrid surrenders herself into the custody of the elusive king of Barredom. It’s up to the renounced prince of Barredom, Ondrew Roth, and his motley group of spurned knights to escort her on a clandestine mission beneath enemy territory, through the underground tomb of an elvan race thought long defeated.

Prepare for a dark tale where all are the many hues of grey, and where any might not be as they seem

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My 5-Star Review!

There are fantasy writers; there are Epic Fantasy writers, and then there’s the stellar few, like Tolkien and Steven Erikson, who build an entire universe in spectacular detail just to share a side story that has little or nothing whatsoever to do with the main story, but you cannot imagine reading the story and not knowing the side story because of the skill with which it’s relayed.   Mr. Eversand’s spectacular tale is right up there in the stratosphere of extraordinary story telling alongside such masters.
Character development in this sweeping saga is remarkable and the dialog between characters scores off the charts as well.  Smiles and Norah quip and banter with the best of ’em, leading me to re-read again and again just for the sheer enjoyment of it.  There are heroes to love and villains to despise, and some very intriguing sorts that you love to despise and despise that you love!
But this story has much more than amazing characters and dialog worthy of Henry Cavil or Robert Downey Jr., oh yes!  Page one sends you careening into the tale through riveting action scenes that allow you to finally draw breath around Chapter Five!  I Could Not Put This Book Down!  There are 449 pages and each one is a sumptuous delight; a nerve-wracking edge-of-your-seat thrill; and a delicious temptation that keeps you turning pages, faster and faster and faster!
Now, don’t let me spoil it for you, but be prepared.  Prepared to be awed, swept up and away, and unable to extricate yourself from the mastery of fantasy Mr. Eversand flawlessly displays chapter after intoxicating chapter.  But draw breath.  Step back and admire…and give yourself plenty of time to devour the last 1/4 of the book because I assure you the story will latch on and not let go.
If you want a true fantasy epic, something you can not only sink your teeth into, but utterly immerse yourself in and become entirely entangled, Kingfall is waiting for you.
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Author Bio
Ezekiel Eversand was born in Southeast Texas. He has spent most of his adult life in operations management for high-volume nightlife venues throughout his home region of Texas and Louisiana, and eventually in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he now resides. He is a travel enthusiast and absolutely loves anywhere that has a beach. He lives with his French bulldog, Hero. Creating unique worlds, characters, and stories has been his true passion behind the scenes since he was a child.
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~Morgan~

Kings of Muraine – #BookReview #Spotlight with #Author J.R. Vaineo

10 Monday Aug 2020

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Book Description

My Review

Everything he thought he was, he wasn’t. Everything he thought he understood he had to re-discover to actually learn the truth. Tyler, a 13-year-old who has lost much very early in life stumbles into a shocking revelation that makes such a loss seem inconsequential at best.
Author J R Vaineo has crafted a unique, imaginative and truly fascinating realm of fantasy and magic where things are not as they seem. Readers are taken on an exciting adventure, following Tyler and his companion, Gemma, who seek to unravel a mystery that will ultimately change his life forever.
Cryptic clues and paradoxical numbers confuse and, often, confound both the characters as well as this reader, as the plot thickens. Characters pour out of the pages in droves, and like the many people we run into in our daily lives, some are important and some are just there to fill the void. I might have liked a glossary to help keep the multitude sorted, but having read Charles Dicken’s Bleak House (where there are more characters then you know what to do with) the imaginative array was not overwhelming. They added to the complexity of the tale and gave a true-to-life feel to the story.
Kings of Muraine is the first book in The Journals of Ravier and end with a perplexingly pleasing puzzle that points readers to part two, Hunt the Dragon Within. Thrilling and bewildering at the same time, this is a tale readers will find as difficult to put down as it is to unravel. Recommended for readers who love to not see what’s coming next!
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Behind the Story with J.R. Vaineo

Let me tell you a little about the beginnings of creating this story. I’m thirty years old now. But the idea for The Journals of Ravier series started back when I was fifteen. It was in the Fall, the first week of school. Oh yeah! I almost forgot to mention I was homeschooled K – 12th grade. Though not an ideal way to grow up, as I spent a lot of time alone, I survived. A lot of things happened, prior to school starting that year. I was never the same. This story helped me to stay sane, during a time in my life when I was lost and lonely; hurting so, so bad inside. I needed an escape. And I got it through writing that first horrible, ugly draft in a spiral-bound notebook. It’s true what the battle-scarred authors say. First drafts are never pretty. The original story began with something like this: ‘What if horses had wings, and could fly? A boy once found this horse, and he named her Angel. He found her in the woods by his home. A boy named, Tyler Craven. This is their story.’ Not a good beginning, I’ll admit. But it was a beginning.

In 2005, around the time Hurricanes Katrina then Rita hit, is when I made the start. It was such a sad year. Yet a good year. Lovely Texans opening their hearts to their Louisiana neighbors . . . that was a beautiful thing. Recently home from a lengthy visit to Texas, my heart was bursting with so many emotions. Through it, I found a love for writing. And here I am, fifteen years later. My third book will be out, at the end of this year or sometime at the start of 2021.

In 2013, I changed the focus of the story. I made it better. Closer to what it is now. Caucasian Tyler Craven became Tyler Malik Ravier—half Caucasian, half Iraqi. Angel was renamed to Awngelic and then finalized as Awngeleik, similar in sound to the name of Angelique. I won’t even mention what Gemma Galloway’s name used to be. I will say this, however. Tadashi’s name was Ted! Amira was Gloria. All the characters were Caucasian. But I changed that, in 2013. Started thinking of new things. New names. New storylines. Then I wrote a rough draft, in 2015. That draft became the foundation for the first three books in Tyler Ravier’s series.

I’ve spent countless hours dreaming of the landscape of Muraine, tweaking it as needed . . . I wanted something unique. See, I grew up in a place with few trees around. Southwestern Wyoming. Always took twice as long for trees to grow to a “normal” size. It was a place at risk of droughts, well, quite a lot. Very dry. Unbelievably windy. Lots of snow, in the winter (usually). As you can imagine, I wanted a place vastly different to escape to. A place with lots of trees. Hence, Paragon was born. A model of excellence. The ideal sort of place I’d love to escape to. I later realized it needed a foreign name. Therefore, Pawv’Ragaen it became. I think that was in 2014.

Writing the books in this series has been a wild ride. I never thought I’d be an author. Though I’m self-published, I’m proud of it. Proud of the work I’ve put it. My writing isn’t perfect, but it is heartfelt. I’m honored to be the author, who’s steering Tyler’s story. Being a writer is so many things, really. I hope the product of my imagination wins you over. And know that I’m just warming up. I can feel it. Tyler demands that more be said than what the three books contain. And who am I to stand in the way of an amazing story being told through his eyes? Truly, there are days I simply feel like the characters are writing the story. That I’m their voice. Lol! I feel what they feel. I laugh with them, cry with them, cheer for them. As they grow, I grow. Not the other way around. Being a writer has changed who I am, as a person. I’m better, kinder, stronger. I actually like who I am. I didn’t, before. I simply existed. But that’s not living.

In parting, I must tell you . . . if you want a dream badly enough, chase it. Don’t give up. Just know that it takes time. Persevere.

Bio

J.R. Vaineo is a self-published indie author, residing in Salt Lake City, UT. In 2018, she published her first book: Kings of Muraine. When she’s not writing, she and her husband, Jessie, have many adventures together. Mostly in cooking, hiking, photography, analytical talks, and fawning over their two adorable fur-babies.

While J.R. Vaineo writes mostly fantasy fiction—combining elements of epic, portal, paranormal, and dark fantasy—she enjoys reading all genres; except, perhaps, for horror stories. After finishing a creative writing program, through the Institute of Children’s Literature, she continued to improve her craft of writing. In 2013, she graduated with her AA degree in psychology. During that time, she expanded on many things, especially focusing on what would prove invaluable for fleshing out characters and plot twists. What started out as a writing prompt, in 2005, has now become a nine book series she is currently working on: The Journals of Ravier. Sometimes, she is quite jealous of the characters’ abilities, found within her own writing. If that is a sign of anything, it is this: Obsession.

All the best,

Julie

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Find Julie on:

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Instagram

JR Vaineo Author website

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Where to Purchase

Amazon:

Barnes & Noble:

Books2Read / Other

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Thank you so much to Julie for taking time out of her busy schedule to share her story with BnV and Word Mongery and Musings 🙂

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~Morgan~

The Other Magic – A Reverse Interview into an #AwardWinning #Fantasy

24 Friday Jul 2020

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Winner – Pinnacle Book Achievement Award.

Runner-up – Independent Publisher Book Awards.

Finalist – Foreward INDIES Book of the Year Awards.

Finalist – National Indie Excellence Awards.

Darkness stirs in a world that is ill-equipped to confront it.

A prophesied king is born, but not all will benefit from his foretold conquests. In a realm where only clerics are permitted to practice magic, Kibure, a mere slave, draws the attention of much more than just his master after wielding an unknown force in a moment of desperation. In a twist of fate, Sindri, the priestess hired to strip Kibure of his power, defies the law, revealing designs of her own. But trust is in short supply in a land ripe with deceit. This wayward pair will have to work together if they hope to evade capture at the hands of the Empire’s most potent wielders.

Halfway around the known world, Aynward’s knack for discovering trouble drives him deep into conspiracies within which he does not belong. Too arrogant to accept counsel, he will have to learn the hard way that some actions have consequences that cannot be undone…

This epic fantasy series will be especially enjoyed by fans of Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan, Michael J. Sullivan, Patrick Rothfuss, and Michael Wisehart. .

In a unique Reverse Interview, Author Derrick Smythe interviewed on of his readers for more insights into the book:

What sparked your interest in this story that made you want to read it? First, it has a great cover, and that drew me in right away. Then I read the blurb for the book and knew I wanted to give it a try.
Who is your favorite/least favorite character and why? My favorite is Aynward and my least favorite is Grobennar. Anyward because he is the most fun and Grobennar because he’s such a jerk. He is fun to dislike, though, so I guess he’s not all bad.
If the story was made into a movie, can you see any specific actors portraying certain roles? No, I’m awful at that.
What surprised you about the story that you didn’t expect. There were more points of view than I expected, although it was not an unpleasant surprise. Quite the opposite, I thought it added additional complexity to the story. The fact that the author did a fantastic job of making these characters very distinctive and believable meant each new point of view brought an additional set of characters to life for me to discover and get to know.
What are you hoping to see happen as the story moves forward? All of the characters from the different points of view coming together and interacting. I know it’s going to happen and I can hardly wait.
Which scene has lingered with you the most? Why? I don’t want to give anything away but there is a scene near the end where Aynward loses some things that were more valuable to him than he realized and as he processes the losses he grows. It was moving and memorable.
Did you disagree with any of the characters’ decisions and why? Of course! Aynward makes tons of bad decisions and the things that happen to him because of it don’t seem to stop him the next time. It is a part of his charm.
If you could ask the author anything about the book, what would it be? When does the next book, the Other Way, come out? I read the sneak peek at the end of book one and I am ready for more.
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The Other Magic audiobook was recently release by Podium Audio, and is performed by Audie Award-winning narrator Greg Patmore. “Greg did such an amazing job. Listening to his voices for each of characters has given me new insight into the very characters I created. I’m finding myself hearing his version of each now as I continue working through the second book in the series. It’s absolutely incredible!” – Derrick Smythe
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Derrick Smythe has been fascinated with all things elvish, dwarfish, and magical since his days of running through the woods with sharpened sticks in defense of whatever fortification he and his brothers had built that summer. After consuming nearly every fantasy book he could find, he was driven to begin work on one of his own. When he isn’t dreaming up new stories, he can be spotted hiking the Adirondack Mountains or traveling the world. He currently resides near his hometown in Upstate New York with his enchanting wife, ethereal daughters, and his faithful-if-neurotic Australian Shepherd, Magnus.
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Find Derrick:

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~Morgan~

A Reverse ‘View – #Book #Interviews Backwards

01 Wednesday Jul 2020

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Book reviews are a marvelous thing.  For an author, each one is the Holy Grail; an invaluable treasure we are ever searching to acquire.  Yet, I have found very often after reading a review that I want to know more.  Whether the review is for one of my own books or a tale I want to learn more about, I am always left wondering what else the reader thought.

Limited in most cases to under 300 words, reviewers typically choose and use their lexicon wisely, but how do you adequately summarize a daring adventure, sweeping romance, or beguiling mystery of over 100K words with so few?

Being a creative problem solver, I have thought about this repeatedly, wondering how to free the reviewer of the constraints of social media attention spans and give them the opportunity to pontificate pleasingly and profusely.

Here enters the Reverse ‘View.  Note the apostrophe, please.  It’s placement is intentional. Not only does this title indicate what you are about to see or read is not what you might anticipate, but it denotes, in this case, the omission of the letters INTER.

How often have you read an author interview? Come on now, be honest; how often have you actually read the entire thing?  I confess, I’m as guilty as most, but what if I interviewed YOU?  We do it all the time.  We ask each other what we thought about the movie we saw over the weekend, how the restaurant we went to compared to others; we even ask each other about books we’ve read.

We interview each other.  So why not interview READERS about the books they’ve read?  This is what you want to know…not what the author wants to tell you to make you buy it, but what the reader thought.  Was it good or an epic failure?  Did you read it all in one weekend because you couldn’t put it down? Why? What made it so good?

Now, imagine if YOU could read the reader’s interview and then ask them whatever it is YOU want to know.  It a nifty notion, not? (Ok, I love alliterations, but ‘lest I digress..) Enter the Reverse ‘View.  An interview of a reader.  An interactive interview! Interested? (sorry, it was right there!)

Before I lose you…In the coming weeks (and months, depending on how much YOU like them) I will be posting a series of Reverse ‘Views.  Interviewing readers about books you may or may not have ever heard of… and giving YOU the opportunity to ask them questions too (in the comments, of course!)

I hope you will enjoy them.  I hope you will join them.  And, of course, ultimately, I hope you will read them 🙂

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~Morgan~

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Beautiful photograph found on Pinterest.  Credit Gratefully Acknowledged to the Original Photographer and Artist.  Thank You.

Immortality- A State of Mind or Body? – #BookReviews

06 Saturday Jun 2020

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What if the Fountain of Youth was real?

Humans have always been obsessed with aging and death. Throughout history, the quest for a way to remain forever young has consumed mankind. What if two men stumbled upon a way to ensure eternal youth? What if it changes their lives, not only for the better, but in ways they never could have imagined?

Immortal is a story filled with adventure, mystery, and thrilling twists. Follow these men as they stumble upon not only their greatest discovery, but possibly their ultimate undoing.

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My Review-  5-Stars!

Through the shifting tides of time, humans have yearned for eternal youth. How does one achieve the seemingly impossible? Is youth a physical or mental condition? Immortal unlocks the mind to explore these questions and more. It challenges the reader to step beyond the box of contemporary thinking and reach beyond accepted limitations. Each page invites the reader to not only enjoy the tale unfolding around two compelling and relatable characters, but to question deeper and seek further along with the characters.

A thoroughly unexpected and satisfying page-turner, Immortal will tempt you to unlock the Fountain of Youth waiting in your own life. A highly recommended read, particularly for these challenging times.

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Immortal by David Boiani

David Boiani is an American author living in Coventry, RI. He writes Psychological thrillers mixed with a touch of horror. He has two short story collections available, Dark Musings and Darker Musings. His debut novel, A Thin Line and its sequel, The Redemption are also now available. He is currently working on two more novels: Immortal, which will be released in the fall of 2019 and Azreal’s Ledge, which will be released in the spring of 2020.

You can visit his website here

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~Morgan~