Category: fantasy character

Character Interview – Clyde the Vampire #Fantasy

CHARACTER NAME:  Clyde

  • Tell us a little about yourself:

Let’s get the obvious out of the way.  I’m a vampire.  Not the kind you’re thinking of, but a species called a Dawn Fang.  In fact, I’m the first one due to this thing called the Great Cataclysm.  It washed over the world and turned my execution into a rebirth type of thing.  Now, I’m faster, stronger, and immune to the sun.  A few accidents later and I realized I could make more of my kind, which resulted in me creating a kingdom called Nytefall.  I’ve been leading the Dawn Fangs for a few decades now and it doesn’t get any easier.  Running a gang of vampiric thieves is one thing.  Now, I have to run a kingdom in the face of a civil war, sun-worshipping priests, hunters, usurpers, and all manner of enemies.  The worst part is that I can’t kill all of them if I want to prove to mortals that Dawn Fangs aren’t monsters.  Not that I haven’t considered it.

  • How did you end up in the situation you’re currently in?

The mess I’m in is rather complicated.  As far as I know, I haven’t done anything to anger this vampire hunter.  He calls himself Alastyre and keeps ripping the heads off vampires.  Swears he’s the one who’s going to kill.  Scary part is that he might not be wrong since he’s the strongest enemy I’ve ever faced.  Nobody else has managed to match my power and primal brutality like this guy.  So, I’m going to have to do something I haven’t done in over one hundred years.  I have to train and get stronger in order to stop this maniac from killing my people and destroying my kingdom.

  • Do you believe in monsters?

Of course.  I am one.  Don’t go thinking all monsters are heartless beasts that can only destroy.  Sure, that’s basically the definition, but that way of thinking is why Dawn Fangs are having trouble.  We are vampires, which makes us monsters.  Yet, we’re able to live like mortals, so we’re in the middle.  Personally, I think any species can be seen as a monster in certain situations.

  • Do you have a moral code? If so what might it be?

I guess you could say that I do.  Hard to tell since I use illusions to trick people, especially in battle or when I’m stealing.  Guess you could say that my moral code depends on who I’m dealing with.  If I’m facing an honourable person then I’ll act the same.  Pit me against a jerk and I’ll do whatever it takes to either kill them or knock them down a few thousand pegs.  One constant rule I have is that you don’t draw children into your fights.  They can join when they grow up, but let them be kids before that time.

  • Would you kill for those you love?

I’ve proven that I would on several occasions.  Not only for the woman I love, but my friends too.  They’re my family and I’m going to protect them with this great power I’ve been given.  In return, they watch my back and make sure I don’t surrender to the monster in my soul.  Guess that desire to retain my humanity makes the whole killing for loved ones rather strange.  It makes sense if you’re a vampire.

  • Would you die for those you love?

Tough one here because you can only do this once.  It would have to be a very specific situation.  My sacrifice would need to result in my family being safe for the rest of their existence.  Otherwise, I’d get myself killed and they’d still be in danger, which means I made a mistake.

  • How do you define ‘heroism?’

Heroism is the ability to stand by your convictions and defend others.  It’s very easy to change your mind or abandon people to save your own skin.  In fact, I’d say most people do this once they’re challenged.  Those with heroism ignore their own survival instinct to make the world a better place.  Although, to be honest, I don’t have that much use for the mortal version of heroism.  For a vampire, it’s closer to having the ability to control your destructive tendencies for the good of your people.

  • What is your greatest skill/asset?

I would have to go with my illusions, which work off my cunning.  Sure, I can shatter mountains with my fists.  My Lord’s Rage allows me to get even stronger at the cost of my self-control.  Those work for slaughtering enemies and physical obstacles, but they can be undermined.  My illusions are much more difficult to get around and they create opportunities for my strength to be used.  I can create decoys, false attacks, or mask my true form to confuse my enemies.  That and it’s simply fun to mess with people.

  • What is your greatest weakness (we won’t tell)?

This is the big question.  In fact, it’s the reason I’m on this ridiculous training quest while my friends are trapped with Alastyre.  I need to figure out my greatest weakness in order to overcome it.  After decades of never feeling threatened, I can’t imagine what it would be.  Could be overconfidence, but I’m trying really hard to stay humble while I rule a kingdom.  I really wonder why people can’t just show up and tell me the answer here.

  • Do you believe in god(s)?

Definitely.  I come from Windemere, which has active gods.  There’s a whole pantheon that lives on an island and watches the rest of us.  They have this rule against physically interfering in events because of past mistakes.  Actually, I recently had my first god encounter.  The guy was a jerk and I’d have punched his face in if I didn’t think he’d smite me.

  • Do you believe you will be successful in your quest?

Yes to both quests.  I believe I will find a way to become stronger and defeat Alastyre.  There’s no reason it wouldn’t happen since I always find a way to win.  I need to be patient and think hard about the problem.  That or beat up whatever’s in my path until they give me what I need.

My other quest is the big one.  I want to prove that Dawn Fangs can live amongst mortals without posing a danger.  This is possible since we can eat regular food and drink blood without killing.  The biggest hurdle is that we’re still vampires, so people see us as monsters.  Doesn’t help that we have a civil war going on between Nytefall and those who wish to stay in the shadows.  Once I get that cleared up, the big quest will be nothing more than a simple test of patience.

  • What do you think of your author/creator?

He’s got a pretty good imagination, but I have a major grievance.  It took the moron about 15 years to get to my series.  He pretended to be me in this imagination game for about a year, but then shelved me for nearly half of his life.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’m happy that he’s given me the spotlight, but I waited so long and I can see that my time isn’t going to be as long as that of his previous heroes.  We’re definitely going to have to chat once he goes to bed.

For the author:

Books in which this character appears:

War of Nytefall Series–  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KBFS2LK

  • Loyalty
  • Lost
  • Rivalry
  • Eradication
  • Ravenous
  • Savagery

Bio-

Charles Yallowitz was born and raised on Long Island, NY, but he has spent most of his life wandering his own imagination in a blissful haze. Occasionally, he would return from this world for the necessities such as food, showers, and Saturday morning cartoons. One day he returned from his imagination and decided he would share his stories with the world. After spending many years fiddling with his thoughts and notebooks, he decided that it was time to follow his dream of being a fantasy author. So, locked within the house with only pizza and seltzer to sustain him, Charles brings you tales from the world of Windemere. He looks forward to sharing all of his stories with you and drawing you into a world of magic.

Social Media

Blog: www.legendsofwindemere.com
Twitter: @cyallowitz
Facebook: Charles Yallowitz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cyallowitz/

Links etc

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0921ZGG44

The War of Nytefall – Savagery #Vampires #Fantasy #Adventure – Book Spotlight

Title:  War of Nytefall: Savagery

Author:  Charles E. Yallowitz

Genre:  Fantasy, Vampires, Action Adventure

Main character description (short):

In the magical world of Windemere, Clyde was your average vampire thief who ran a gang of criminals.  Then, the Great Cataclysm struck in the middle of his execution and transformed him into a new breed of monster.  Able to retain his strength in the sun and possessing a heartbeat, Clyde realized he could pass as mortal.  He also learned that he could turn old-world vampires into what would come to be known as Dawn Fangs.  For years, he has defended the hidden kingdom of Nytefall as he waits for the day vampires and mortals can coexist.  It doesn’t help that he really enjoys fighting and keeps looking for trouble.

Synopsis:

After years of defending Nytefall and the Dawn Fangs from all enemies, Clyde may have met his ultimate challenge.  Matching the destructive vampire in power and ferocity, Alastyre the hunter is the first to make him feel fear.  Before he knows what is happening, Clyde has been driven from his home while his friends remain trapped with this new threat.  His only hope is to find a way to become stronger and return to reclaim his kingdom.  Yet, how can a monster who splits mountains with a single blow become more powerful?

Brief Excerpt:

The instant the longbow clatters on the floor, Clyde and Alastyre vanish for a moment and reappear on opposite sides of the courtyard. The force from their failed strikes create matching blasts of air and they whirl around in unison to face each other once more. Another charge results in the combatants crashing together, the shockwave sending a circular wall of sand billowing away from them. Palms pressing against each other, they appear to be evenly matched until Clyde is struck by a swift headbutt. Having been caught by surprise, his back-leg bends and he loses the leverage that was preventing him from being forced away. With his knee on the ground, he is bent backwards and left open for another shot to the face. It is only by increasing his Lord’s Rage that he avoids falling and musters the strength to shove Alastyre to the side. He dislocates his wrists to free his hands from the hunter’s grip and creates four illusions of himself to gain time to heal. With his own body masked to blend into the nearest boulder, the Dawn Fang crouches in order to pounce on the first opportunity. Instead, he has to leap away when his enemy ignores the decoys and punches exactly where he is lurking.

“I’ve studied your tactics, so your tricks are pointless,” Alastyre says as he throws the cracked boulder over his shoulder.

“Guess I’ll have to take you seriously then,” the Dawn Fang retorts with a grin.

Why should readers buy this book?

The only reason to buy this book is because it’s a fun adventure.  I write to entertain with humour, exciting action scenes, and colourful characters.  Like my other books, War of Nytefall: Savagery is pure, relaxing escapism.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0921ZGG44

 

5 Tips on Writing Fantasy Characters – Guest Post Desiree Villena

5 Tips for Writing Fantasy Characters – Desiree Villena

Most creative writing classes treat writing characters and writing fantasy characters as one and the same. They provide run-of-the-mill tips (create conflict, establish flaws, etc.) and you end up with run-of-the-mill characters — well-developed, but nothing out of the ordinary.

But what fantasy writers need are legendary characters — characters that stay with you for a lifetime, like those that occupy the worlds of J. R. R. Tolkien and George R. R. Martin. Unfortunately, these writers haven’t exactly revealed all their secrets to the rest of us. But by working backwards, I’ve put together five top tips, exclusively for fantasy writers, that should help you think outside of the character-profile box.

1. Interview your characters to get to know them

Whether you adopt the tactics of a police interrogator or Oprah Winfrey, interviewing your characters is a great way to flesh out their motives, weaknesses, history, habits, and hobbies. Sure, the same advice is given to authors of all fiction genres, but when writing fantasy this exercise calls for more creative flair.

For instance, most questionnaires will ask your character about their career: What’s your dream job? What job would you never consider? When writing contemporary fiction, it’s easy to fall back on conventions: I want to become a writer, a football star, a successful entrepreneur. I’d never be a high-school teacher, a telemarketer, a pest control worker. Your fantasy characters, however, will need to produce answers that make sense in the context of their world.

Let’s take the Harry Potter series as an example. Some Hogwarts graduates will join the Aurors — an elite group of Dark Wizard catchers — others take soul-crushing jobs in magic middle management, and I imagine someone has to clean up the mess made by the post-office owls. These jobs are recognizable; we can place them in the real world, and even make assumptions about a character based on their magical nine-to-five. But at the same time, they place the character firmly in the unique world of the books, seamlessly weaving the two together and adorning the bigger picture with original details.

2. Don’t assume that your characters think like you

When a story takes place in a world that’s not our own, its characterizations should reflect that on a deeper level than just creative job titles and otherworldly hobbies. Everyone in your world, good or bad, leading lady or forgettable friend, will share a baseline set of assumptions informed by the world they inhabit, which means that their inherent ways of thinking won’t always resemble our own.

Let’s say your fantasy novel is set in a world where gods regularly show their faces to interfere in everyday life. Though atheism might be common here on Earth Prime, it would make no sense for anyone in that world to be an atheist. This doesn’t have to mean that everybody thinks and feels exactly the same way about the gods; some characters might fervently believe that they reward devotion and punish sin, while others might quietly think of them as meddling pranksters.

Setting up coherent belief systems and knowing where your characters stand on your world’s “big questions” will help you to build more complex relationships among your characters, and between your characters and their world.

3. Build diversity into your cast of characters

In general, creating some diversity in your cast of characters can be a really useful thing to do. Meaningfully different perspectives and experiences will add complexity to your world, and hopefully create intuitive conflict or tension among your characters.

If your world is divided into different regions, for example, then the people in each region might have vastly different cultures due to the influence of climate, landscape, or the way they’re ruled. Take A Song of Ice and Fire. The people in the North live, think, and dress very differently from the people in King’s Landing: the first being sparsely populated, harsh, and independently ruled while the other is crowded, coastal, and right under the thumb of the Iron Throne.

Even within distinct groups, one member doesn’t need to have the same mannerisms, views, and values as the next. In The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien has creatures that are familiar to fantasy readers, and certainly employs generic tropes. But his elves, dwarves, hobbits, and wizards are not carbon-copy fantasy races. Among the dwarves, for example, there are good and wicked, eloquent and crass, loyal and traitorous characters.

4. Revitalize common character tropes

Lots of fantasy writers love character archetypes — which is not necessarily a bad thing, because fantasy readers love them too. But if you rely too much on clichés, you might stray into overly predictable territory. There’s also no reason to get anywhere near that black hole when there are so many great ways to revitalize common character tropes. Here are a couple to get you thinking:

  • Deconstruct it: Even if you adhere to its traditions, you can deconstruct a trope by shining a light on its implications and consequences. For example, Harry Potter may be the Chosen One — but only because the antagonist, Voldemort, decided to believe a prophecy and mark Harry out. The notion of the Chosen One only has as much power as Voldemort gives it.
  • Defy expectations: When readers encounter an archetypal character they’ll bring certain expectations to the table (because that’s how archetypes work). But you can give your character a dose of originality by meeting enough of the required standards that make a trope recognizable, while defying other characteristics that are simply expected. For example, the White Witch of Narnia ticks all the boxes of an Evil Overlord, but she defies character conventions by being a woman shrouded in white, rather than a male character cloaked in darkness.

5. Keep the bigger picture in mind

You may have noticed that in fantasy writing, worldbuilding and character development often go hand-in-hand. And nowhere is this more evident (or more important) than in the mood and tone of your story. Whether you build your setting or your characters first, the general tenor of both elements should work together to create the perfect atmosphere.

The easiest way to think of this is to look at some more examples. In the Song of Ice and Fire books, where the dead stand up to fight and swords are forged with blood, even our favorite characters are flawed — Arya is obsessed with revenge, Tyrion is morally ambiguous, and Daenerys is proud and stubborn (and burns down a city). These gray characters meld perfectly with the grim and somber tone that shrouds this highly cynical series.

Meanwhile, the first few books in the Harry Potter series are full of wonder and whimsy. Its magical world features bat-bogey hexes, dodgy spell-checking quills, and wacky divination lessons. So it makes perfect sense that the protagonists be quirky teenagers who are always bickering, fumbling first crushes, and failing to get to grips with Muggle technology (I’m looking at you, Ron).

So take inspiration from fantasy legends JKR and GRRM. Don’t just fill in a character profile. Think about the emotional texture of your book and the kind of reaction you want from your readers. Then approach the task of character development with your mind on the bigger picture.

Return of the Raven Blog Tour – Fantasy Romance/TimeTravel

Return of the Raven
The Novels of Ravenwood Book 5
by Judith Sterling
Genre: Time Travel Fantasy Romance
Margaret, Lady Ravenwood, is trapped in a loveless marriage and firmly entrenched in the medieval world. Along comes Griffin Nightshade, a historian from the future whose soul resonates with hers. He persuades her to return with him to the 1950s, but heeding her heart means courting danger from a curse that could spell her doom.
Haunted by his parents’ sudden deaths, Griffin knows all too well the pain born of love lost. He guards his emotions, but Margaret delves deep and goes straight to the soul. She’s hard to resist…and harder to set free.
The heart’s desire and history’s demands don’t always agree. Yet true love is eternal.
**Other books in the Novels of Ravenwood series**
Flight of the Raven
The Novels of Ravenwood Book 1
**Get it Free for review on Booksprout! **
Soul of the Wolf
The Novels of Ravenwood Book 2
Shadow of the Swan
The Novels of Ravenwood Book 3
Night of the Owl
The Novels of Ravenwood Book 4
Judith Sterling is an award-winning author whose love of history and passion for the paranormal infuse everything she writes. Whether penning medieval romance (The Novels of Ravenwood) or young adult paranormal fantasy (the Guardians of Erin series), her favorite themes include true love, destiny, time travel, healing, redemption, and finding the hidden magic which exists all around us. She loves to share that magic with readers and whisk them far away from their troubles, particularly to locations in the British Isles.
Her nonfiction books, written under Judith Marshall, have been translated into multiple languages. She has an MA in linguistics and a BA in history, with a minor in British Studies. Born in that sauna called Florida, she craved cooler climes, and once the travel bug bit, she lived in England, Scotland, Sweden, Wisconsin, Virginia, and on the island of Nantucket. She currently lives in Salem, Massachusetts with her husband and their identical twin sons.
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$15 Amazon
a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js

Emi Blog Tour – Fantasy

Emi
by Ian Primeaux
Genre: Fantasy
One night while waiting for her father to get home, ten year old Emi wanders around her home when she accidentally drops her teddy bear into a mysterious chest. Anxiously going in after it, Emi falls into the chest and is teleported to a strange new world. Not long after waking up in this new world she is saved by her teddy bear who has come to life and grown several times her size. During her journey to find a way back home Emi meets several new friends including a royal guard, a scientist, and many others. Her focus changes from looking for a way home once she begins uncovering clues that her father may actually be in the strange land also! With the help of her new friends Emi embarks on a journey that will change her life forever.
Ian Primeaux is a new independent author from a small town in Louisiana. His first book “Emi” is the beginning of a new fantasy series reminiscent of adventures like “Alice in Wonderland” or “Wizard of Oz” with a few components inspired by classic role playing games. Apart from working a full-time management job, Ian spends most of his free time writing and crafting extensions of the world created in “Emi” to ensure that there will always be a new story ready to be told.
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
$20 Amazon

The Cyan Huntress – Blog Tour

The Cyan Huntress
Prophecy of Caerleon Book 1
by Krystal Pena
Genre: Epic Fantasy Romance
She will avenge her husband’s death, even if she must kill every knight in Caerleon to learn who betrayed him.
Anwyn thought she would finally enjoy comfort and happiness when she married a traveling psychic–that is, until Uthyr Pendragon unleashed a war on all magic-users and had her new husband burned alive.
She’s determined to wreak her revenge, until a Druid boy’s prophecy convinces her to put aside her personal vendetta and learn to hunt the ones who want her dead–harder to do when she’s captured and taken to Caerleon to be tried as a sorceress.
Now, if she can escape with the help of Caradoc, a man whose secrets rival Anwyn’s, she will have to fulfill her vow of revenge while on the run and attempting to find the one leader who can unite three broken kingdoms under a single banner.
Assuming, of course, she can protect herself from burning at the stake, safeguard her heart from the enigmatic Caradoc, and complete her training as the Cyan Huntress.
Fans of Jeffe Kennedy, Grace Draven, and Laura Thalassa will love the blend of Arthurian legend and exciting action in this romantic paranormal fantasy adventure!
**Pre-order for only .99 cents!!**
USA Today Bestselling author Krystal Pena resides with her four children near Boston, MA. She writes PNR/UF and fantasy, and enjoys writing stories about strong women who overcome the greatest obstacles to achieve their dreams or goals. Many of her characters reflect her and the adversities she has overcome, which she wants to relay in her writing to empower the young women of generations to come. Many of her stories have roots in ancient ideals and folklore, and she loves hiding alternate meanings or symbolism in her writing.
Aside from writing, Krystal enjoys photography, archery, horseback riding and MMA. She loves history and art, and frequents historical sites and art galleries in her spare time. Above all else, she loves being at home, baking and cooking with her children, visiting her family and reading bedtime stories.
She works as a personal assistant to other authors by day and writes late into the night, a strong cup of coffee always within reach.
Krystal is also one-half of the pen name KM McKenna, which she shares with NYT bestselling author Margo Bond Collins in writing YA/NA fantasy. She enjoys working alongside Margo as both co-author and PA.
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
Enter the Giveaway Here!
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Legacy of the Mask – On Tour

Legacy of the Mask Schedule

Feb 11

kickoff at Silver Dagger Book Tours

A Pinch of Bookdust

Feb 12

Kayden McLeod, Author

All Things Dark & Dirty    

Feb 14

SE Lindberg  – GUEST POST

Feb 15

Bedazzled By Books

The Book Dragon

Feb 16

Insane Books

The Bookshelf Fairy

Feb 17

Musings From An Addicted Reader  

Twisted Book Ramblings

Feb 18

@theenchantedshelf

Westveil Publishing   

Feb 19

Scrupulous Dreams

Book Corner News and Reviews

Feb 20

R Tran Books – GUEST POST

A Wonderful World of Words – GUEST POST

Feb 21

Tina Donahue – Heat with Heart  

Feb 22

Sadie’s Spotlight

Literary Gold

Feb 23

Midnight Book Reader

Sapphyria’s Book Reviews

Feb 24

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Books, Authors, Blogs   

Feb 25

IndiePowerd by No Sweat Graphics

Books a Plenty Book Reviews

Feb 26

Lady Hawkeye   

Feb 27

Writing Dreams

Feb 28

Drako’s Den

Mar 1

Books all things paranormal and romance

Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read   

Mar 2

Craving Lovely Books   

Why I Can’t Stop Reading  

Mar 3

Girl with Pen

Inside the Insanity – GUEST POST

Mar 4

Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin’   

The Faerie Review

Mar 5

Sylv.net   

Teatime and Books  

Mar 8

eBook Addicts

The Sexy Nerd ‘Revue’

Mar 9

4covert2overt ☼ A Place In The Spotlight ☼ – GUEST POST

Chapters through life

Mar 10

Books A-Brewin’ – GUEST POST

❧Defining Ways❧

Mar 11

Valerie Ullmer | Romance Author

ⒾⓃⓉⓇⓄⓈⓅⒺⒸⓉⒾⓋⒺ ⓅⓇⒺⓈⓈ

NN Light Trick or Treat Bonanza

Trick or Treat! ‘Tis the month to celebrate all things paranormal, supernatural, suspenseful and mystical. If you’re like me, you’ll want to accept this very special invitation to join the festivities at N. N. Light’s Book Heaven’s 2nd annual Trick or Treat Book Bonanza. 46 authors share what they’d dress up as for Halloween as well as 53 books featured plus a chance to win one of the following:

Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Enter to win a $25 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Enter to win a $15 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Enter to win a $10 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

I’m thrilled to be a part of this event. My books, Nightly Bites II will be featured on 13th October and The Secret of Blossom Rise on 26th October. Wait until you read what my Halloween costume would be. You won’t want to miss it.

Bookmark this event and tell your friends:

https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/trick-or-treat-book-bonanza

Featuring

1- Katie O’Sullivan, Marilyn Baron, Kayla Krantz

2- Judith Sterling, Michelle Bryan

5- Debby Grahl, Willa Blair, N. Christine Samuelson (Eternal)

6- Ruthie Marlenee, Nancy E. Polin (Soul)

7- Theresa Dale, Alina K. Field, Paula Benge

8- G.A. Finocchiaro (Knightmares), Charles E. Yallowitz (Ravenous)

9- Nancy Fraser, Dee S. Knight, Lelani Black

12- Maddie James, Robert Herold, P.L. Parker

13- A.L. Butcher (Nightly), D.W. Adler

14- Tena Stetler, S.K. Andrews, Naomi Bellina

15- Regina Jeffers, Karen Michelle Nutt (Two)

16- Randy Overbeck (Blood), Beverley Bateman, Catherine Mesick

19- Helen C. Johannes, Marilyn Barr, Judy Bruce

20- Mary Martinez, Cherie Colyer

21- Karilyn Bentley, Catherine Milos

22- Maureen Bonatch, Aubrey Wynne

23- Elyzabeth M. Valey, Emma Ames

26- Nancy E. Polin (Raven), A.L. Butcher (Blossom)

27- G.A. Finocchiaro (Grace), Charles E. Yallowitz (Eradication), N. Christine Samuelson (Echoes)

28- Roni Denholtz, Mary Morgan

29- Karen Michelle Nutt (Heart), Jana Richards

30- Sharon Buchbinder, Randy Overbeck (Crimson)

Temple of Eternity – Blog Tour – YA Fantasy

Temple of Eternity
Bobby Ether Series Book 2
by R. Scott Boyer
Genre: YA Fantasy

Deep in the rain forests of Guatemala, an ancient Mayan temple holds a mythical secret. The legendary Fountain of Youth lies within, but not all myths are fairy tales. The temple ruins have been seized by the Core, a sinister cult determined to unlock the mysteries of immortality.
When their captured friends are spotted near the temple, Bobby and his cousin Jinx must journey into the dark heart of the jungle to save them. Harnessing their extraordinary abilities, the boys will undertake an epic quest to fulfill a centuries-old prophecy.
Cut off from their allies, Bobby and Jinx combat supernatural barriers, raging rivers, and deadly beasts. They’ll face savage natives, vengeful ghosts, and ruthless mercenaries who can conjure a person’s darkest fears. Past and present will collide, with the power of eternity on the line. Can Bobby fulfill the prophecy and lay the temple’s spirits to rest? If not, Bobby and his friends may become permanent inhabitants of the Temple of Eternity.

Add to Goodreads
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Bobby Ether and the Jade Academy
Bobby Ether Series Book 1
When sixteen-year-old Bobby Ether is abducted and brought to the secluded Jade Academy in Tibet, monks teach him and other special students how to tap into their Anima–the universal energy that connects all living things. But the headmistress of the academy is secretly exploiting the students, looking for genetic triggers to create a new breed of humans with metaphysical abilities. As his powers increase, Bobby is thrust into a cesspool of conspiracy, lies, and betrayal. A jade amulet left by his clairvoyant grandfather may provide answers, but what exactly is his family’s connection to this mysterious place?
Can Bobby master his talents in time to uncover the truth? If not, his fate–and the fate of the entire Jade Academy–may be sealed.
**Only .99 cents!!**
Scott Boyer grew up in Santa Monica, CA and graduated from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley in 1996. In 2008, he became fascinated with the idea of blending young adult fantasy with new-age/spiritual fiction and spent the next six years crafting his first novel, Bobby Ether and the Academy, which won critical acclaim for blending Eastern spiritual philosophies with a fun, fast-paced adventure style.

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$75 Amazon gift card and copy of Book One: Bobby Ether and the Jade Academy

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The Reluctant Wizard – Blog Tour – Guest Post/interview – A A Warne – Fantasy

What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first?

Of course, I don’t do anything simple. I generally come up with ideas all the time. Most of the time they don’t belong to a story in particular, so those ideas get written down and thrown into a slush pile. When I’m stuck for an idea, I just start plucking out of that pot until something sticks and I write it into the scene.

The ideas that I have for a particular series also goes into a folder. Once I’m finished with whatever I’m writing currently, I pick what folder is the biggest and start working on that story.

First, it’s all about putting the ideas into a coherent order – and this is really hard especially since I like to throw timelines all over the place.

Then I write an outline and revise it several times. If I write from multiple character’s perspectives, then each character gets their own timeline, and I somehow merge them all together to form a book outline.

Then the draft. This is nothing to sneeze at. Drafts are horrible writing but for some authors their natural talent makes it look like a polished piece. I am not one of those writers. My drafts are full of notes, comments, repetition, emphasis, etc. because I’m telling myself the story.

I do countless re-writes until I’m happy with it and then the editor’s round starts.

So the process is long and it’s nothing short of hard work but if I skip any step, I end up writing myself into a corner. Which all writer’s know, is not fun to navigate back out of.

What are common traps for aspiring writers?

Rules! Too many writers say learn the rules but then can’t determine what the rules are.

Of course, there are grammar rules, spelling and punctuation. These are a given. But writing rules? Are they suppose to be on content? Use of language? Expression? I never found out.

Instead, I ignored all the generalized advice and rule talk and put my head into a book to figure out what exactly does a novel consist of. Thousands of articles will tell you to skip that step, but I needed to learn the hard way so I knew it for myself. Learning something for myself made me in control of those

What is your writing Kryptonite?

No outline! I’m not someone who can write a book from cover to cover. I have to have a plan. Too often, I write the plan several times before I start constructing scenes. Then I draft the book several times over before I start the re-write. It sounds like a lot of work but it’s a process that allows me to dive deeper, search harder, explore more.

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

I haven’t a clue what people want to read and this is really a no-no in the publishing world. I have certain stories that I must get out of my head and onto paper. If people want to read them, then great! But if not, that’s fine too, but I must write them. Every time I watch a movie or read a book, my mind wanders and I find myself seeing a deeper picture than the story was meant to go. That’s where I find my content – the layers that are so deep and shine the light on what’s hidden in the darkness.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Never give up.

Everyone thinks they have the answer – but it’s only relevant to their lives, not yours.

The yellow brick path has been tracked too many times – don’t follow the dirt path either – create your own.

There is no such thing as the wrong answer when you are asking about life.

Creativity is life.

What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?

Actually, I find writing males so much easier. It’s women I find hard. I grew up with so many boys and never any girls. They’re less complicated and talk at face value. Women don’t. They hide things and have a level of expectation thinking it’s written on their face. I can’t deal with that! So I jump into a man and follow him. I’m more comfortable doing that.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

How long is a piece of string? No idea. Some very quick, others years. It’s a matter of what the story requires, needs from me, etc. I let the work dictate itself. If I try and put limitations on it, then everything goes out the window.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

Yes and reader’s block too! Neither is fun. But it’s all about the mindset. If you are not creating – don’t blame the craft. Something is going on in your life that is impacting the creative muscle. Health? Stress? Toxic person in your life that you constantly thinking things will get better? It does once they’re out of your life! And you’re creating again.

The Reluctant Wizard
by A.A. Warne
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy

By day, wizards rule the world. At night, warlocks seek to destroy it. Now, one boy will challenge them both.

Eli never wanted to be a rebel. All he wants is an end to the famine and war threatening his community. To save his mother and baby brother from marauding warlocks, Eli is forced to make a heartbreaking decision. He must travel to Terra Magicae, the mysterious land of the wizards, to study magic. In exchange, the wizards will protect his family, but this protection comes at a price: once Eli enters the Grand Wizardry Academy, he may never come home.
Full of lush landscapes and magical marvels, Terra Magicae is more wondrous than Eli ever imagined… and more dangerous. At first, Eli’s struggles to fit in at the Academy seem ordinary. But the more he questions the wizards, the more he suspects a sinister purpose behind their bizarre rules and tests. For a dark secret lies at the heart of this mystical land, one so terrible it threatens not only the students at the Academy but the lives of everyone Eli loves.
To save them all, Eli must step into the midst of the battle between the wizards and warlocks and defy both sides. He must become the rebel he was always meant to be.
A. A. Warne writes elaborate, strange, dark and twisted stories. In other words, speculative fiction.
Located at the bottom of the Blue Mountains in Sydney, Australia; Amanda was born an artist and grew up a painter before deciding to study pottery.
But it wasn’t until she found the art of the written word that her universe expanded.
A graduate of Western Sydney University in arts, Amanda now spends her time wrestling three kids and writing full time.
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