Interview with Kraig Dafoe, Author of Search for the Lost Realm (Giveaway)

Kraig Dafoe was born in Potsdam, New York and grew up in Canton. He played high school football and joined the United States Army Reserves at the age of seventeen.

Kraig married at the age of nineteen and moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia where he worked as a Private Security officer for The Christian Broadcasting Network and also attended the Tidewater Community College for business.

After five years as a security officer, he became a Deputy Sheriff for the city of Chesapeake Virginia.

Kraig left the Sheriff’s office after nine years of service and pursued a couple of different business opportunities before he went on to publishing his debut novel.

Kraig is the father of five children and he currently resides in Kansas, raising his youngest son.

His latest book is the fantasy/adventure, Search for the Lost Realm.

Visit his website at www.kraigdafoebooks.com

Connect with Kraig:

FACEBOOK

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I never know what to say here, I feel like I’m signing up for a dating site or something. I’m a single father trying to put my imagination to good use.

When did you begin writing?

I began writing over twenty years ago but it wasn’t until just a couple of short years ago that I started to take it seriously.

Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

I write whenever the mood hits me. If an idea pops into my head at two in the morning, so be it.

What is this book about?

This book is about a young man wanting to make a name for himself. Varan, the main character sets out to find a mystical power and soon discovers just how dangerous the world can be.

What inspired you to write it?


I used to love role-playing and after a few years of doing so, I decided to share some of my imagination with the world.

Do you have an agent or are you looking for one?

I would like an agent but the task of getting one is as difficult as getting a mainstream publisher to publish your book.

Was the road to publication smooth sailing or a bumpy ride?

The road was extremely bumpy and I don’t see it smoothing out anytime soon.

If you knew then, what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently?

Absolutely. Too many things to mention.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

The easiest way to find it is through the links on my site, www.kraigdafoebooks.com but the paperback can be ordered from any bookstore in the U.S.

What is up next for you?

I am currently working on my second fantasy novel, based on the same world as this one but with different characters.

PURCHASE:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | ITUNES

Pump Up Your Book and Kraig Dafoe are teaming up to give you a chance to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card/Paypal Cash!

Here’s how it works:

Each person will enter this giveaway by liking, following, subscribing and tweeting about this giveaway through the Rafflecopter form placed on blogs throughout the tour.

This promotion will run from April 1 – May 31. The winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter, contacted by email and announced on June 1, 2013.

Visit each blog stop below to gain more entries as the Rafflecopter widget will be placed on each blog for the duration of the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



If the Rafflecopter form doesn't load, please visit the book's tour page by clicking here.

Interview with Richard Blunt, Author of Lucas Trent: Guardian in Magic

Joining us today is Richard Blunt, author of the fantasy novel, Lucas Trent: Guardian in Magic. Richard is currently working on his second book in the Lucas Trent series.

Welcome to The Book Connection, Richard. It's great to have you here. Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

I am a regular Austrian guy in his thirties. I like the fantasy genre, no matter if it’s books, movies, tv-shows or games.

Where did you grow up?

A little town in Austria, close to the capital city of Vienna.

What is your fondest childhood memory?

The day I got my acceptance letter to a school I went to. (Something like college in the US) It was the day I knew that I could make my greatest hobby a profession.

When did you begin writing?

2008. But I stopped after a short while and only restarted late 2009. Glad I did though…

Do you write during the day, at night or whenever you can sneak a few moments?

I write when I feel about writing. Sometimes I don’t leave my PC for the whole day, sometimes I don’t write for weeks or months.

What is this book about?

It is actually the first part of a series. It tells the story about a teenager that stumbles from a quite normal life into a wonderful world of mystery, conspiracy and magic, that had always been right before his eyes, hidden in plain sight. It tells a story about friendship and trust, and about the fact that things are not always as simple as they appear to be.

What inspired you to write it?

I love fantasy stories and this one has been in my mind for quite a while. At some point it had to come out *grin*

Who is your biggest supporter?

My girlfriend. She sort of keeps me together.

Are you a member of a critique group? If no, who provides feedback on your work?

No. I get my critiques only from people I personally know, or later on from professional reviewers.

Who is your favorite author?

There is no single one in particular. Maybe Agatha Christie.

Do you have an agent or are you looking for one?
No I don’t have one. And I am not looking for one right now. Should I?

Was the road to publication smooth sailing or a bumpy ride?

It started out as a mudhole, taking quite some effort to get going, but once you are in motion it’s quite ok.

If you knew then, what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently?

I would most likely have avoided some time consuming mistakes, but other than taking up some time no harm was done, so maybe not.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

Almost everywhere it seems. Amazon seems a good place to start, or Barnes & Noble.

Do you have a website and/or blog where readers can find out more?

Yes, my websites address is http://www.lucastrent.com/.  The link to my blog is on the site.

Do you have a video trailer to promote your book? If yes, where can readers find it?

It will be on my website by the time this interview goes on air.
What is the best investment you have made in promoting your book?

Going on the virtual book tour. It was/is much work, but it’s worth it.

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with aspiring authors everywhere?

Stay true to yourself and don’t give up. It might be a bumpy ride, but offroading is bumpy as well, and it can be quite much fun.

What is up next for you?

Writing the sequel to “Guardian in Magic.”

Thanks for spending time with us today, Richard. We wish you much success.

Visit Richard on Twitter at www.twitter.com/lucas_trent and Facebook at www.facebook.com/people/richard-blunt.

Character Interview: Neeta Lyffe from Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator by Karina Fabian

Joining us today is Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator. Now, I’m not real big on zombies, so I’m glad sometime in the future (2040 to be exact) these exterminators came into being. Let’s learn more about Neeta and what she does so that this planet is safe for future generations.

Hi Neeta. Thanks for being with us today. I was concerned that your duties might keep you from speaking with us.

It's no big deal, really. You know, I'm just an exterminator. I spray for ants, set rat traps… Zombie extermination is just one of the things I do--and, thank heaven, there aren't *that* many zombies out there. I have free time, even when I was hosting Zombie Death Extreme, I managed to find time to relax and have fun.

I just caught the cover for your book on Karina’s website. Sure looks like you can kick some butt.

(Blushes) I hate that picture. There is no way I'd take on a zombie with my uniform half off, and trust me, if a zombie is down, his head is away from his neck. But people do like it, and I can kick butt, though most of the time, I'd rather slice off the head.

Recently heard that you got yourself into a spot of trouble—something to do with a zombie and a lawyer. What is up with that?

It's been in the news enough, but long story short: Lawyer decides to entertain guests with a backyard shindig, featuring all manner of strongly smelling foods, including (who knows why) pickled beets and something smothered in blue cheese dressing. Said lawyer lives behind a cemetery. When the undead started rising and following the smells, he doesn’t panic but depends on his electric fence to keep them out. Like a little zap is going to stop something already dead. By the time I responded to the 9-1-1, there was pandemonium everywhere--and one guy videoing on his phone. Me against nine undead? Even I'm not good enough to get in close. I used the flamethrower until I ran out of fuel. One flaming meat staggered onto the porch, probably in response to the video guy. A brilliant guest tossed vodka on it. Set the porch on fire. I was busy trying to unstick my chainsaw from one zombie's shoulder at the time.

I re-killed all the zombies before backup got there. Saved over a dozen lives. But Lawyer Larry sued me for wrecking his backyard. (shrug) Mom always said not to expect any appreciation for this job.

I’m not a fan of reality TV. I thought by the time 2040 came to pass it would have run its course. I hear it’s helping you out, though. What made you want to get into TV anyway?

I wanted to educate people about zombie extermination and defense. Despite everything, I think we accomplished that, though not as well as I'd like. I hope everyone will catch *The Zombie Syndrome* on the Discovery Channel when it comes out.

And, frankly, there was no way I was going to pay off that lawsuit on an exterminator's pay. It was reality TV or lose my house.

So, I hear the paparazzi are driving you a bit nuts. How are you keeping them in line?

Have I shown you my chain saw?

Now, you don’t have to answer this, but this is your chance to get Karina back for some of the mean stuff she’s done to you in this book. Tell us a secret about Karina that no one else knows.

I don't know Karina's secrets; I'm not sure she has many. Besides, I don't really feel the need for revenge. Now, if I can tell you about Lawyer Larry…

Here’s an important question: where can readers pick up a copy of Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator?

From the publisher: http://www.damnationbooks.com/book.php?isbn=9781615722723 and Amazon.com.

Do you have an online home too?

http://www.karinafabian.com/index.php?name=Content&pid=33  is where you can learn more about the book. Naturally, the show has its own website: http://www.zombiedeathextreme.com/ They're going to make a subdomain for my business, Lyffe Undeath Exterminations, but we haven't gotten to it yet.

Thanks for making time for us today, Neeta. Any parting words?

Just remember: I'm a professional zombie exterminator with training and a license to re-kill. If you ever see a zombie, your best bet is to call 9-1-1, douse yourself in cleaning products and run. Don't be a hero.

Watch the trailer!


Neeta Lyffe, Zombie Exterminator Tour Schedule

Dec http://www.lindaandrews.net/id14.html  Interview in newsletter

4-Dec http://frederation.wordpress.com/ interview

6-Dec http://www.suhalfwerk.blogspot.com/ Guest post: why write about zombies?

7-Dec http://pennylockwoodehrenkranz.blogspot.com/ Guest Post: what do you do with a zombie novel

8-Dec http://acewriters.com/books interview

8-Dec http://naomi-jay.livejournal.com/ Guest Post : Building Neeta's World

9-Dec http://ysfetsos.blogspot.com/ Guest Post: Why zombie fic?

9-Dec http://fabianspace.blogspot.com/  Blog: Squee! Karina's Sister Poses as Neeta!

10-Dec http://vbt-writersonthemove.blogspot.com/ Guest post

10-Dec http://snoringscholar.com/ interview

11-Dec http://kbaccellia.livejournal.com/ review

12-Dec www.tmarquitz.com/blog interview

13-Dec http://writersandauthors.blogspot.com/ feature

13-Dec http://fabianspace.blogspot.com/  Blog--The Zombie Death Extreme Website!

14-Dec http://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/ Character interview

15-Dec http://cfvici.blogspot.com/ review

16-Dec http://fabianspace.blogspot.com/  Blog--Questions about Neeta Lyffe

17-Dec http://afortnightofmustard.blogspot.com/ Character interview

17-Dec http://catholiconceagain.blogspot.com/ Catholics and Fantasy

18-Dec http://joyce-anthony.blogspot.com/ interview

19-Dec http://kat-findingangel.blogspot.com/ review + interview

19-Dec http://splashdownreviews.blogspot.com/ review + interview

20-Dec http://fabianspace.blogspot.com/  Roundup of Reviews

20-Dec http://tributebooksreviews.blogspot.com/ Review

Author Bio: From zombie exterminators to dragon detectives to nuns in space, Karina Fabian's universes make readers laugh, cry and think. Winner of the 2007 EPPIE Award for best sci-fi and the 2010 INDIE Award for best fantasy, she lets her characters take her where they will and is never disappointed. Karina Fabian is married to Colonel Robert Fabian. They and their four kids call home wherever the Air Force sends them. Learn more at www.fabianspace.com

Different Than Any Other City in the United States, an Article by Maria Lucia, Author of LIBERATION

Our guest blogger today is Maria Lucia, author of LIBERATION,BOOK ONE OF THE ANDRUSIAN CHRONICLES.

Amora Madre is content in the Smokey Mountains pursuing her teaching of love, things of the spirit, and metaphysics. Her childhood invisible playmates, Casey and Nia, are always by her side. But when soul mate Gabriel Ephraim enters her life, she is drawn into the heart of a horrific encounter with the spirit world in the skies over Washington D.C. Catapulted into service for the Intergalactic Supernatural Intelligence Agency, ISIA, the kindred lovers soon discover the existence of an invisible wickedness over the city, its galactic origins, and its evil designs for national and world events.

As part of an Andrusian galactic strike force, assembled to dismantle the malevolent legion’s brutal matrix, Amora and Gabriel, seasoned and accomplished, embark on a dangerous adventure filled with Onaweyans, Scorpillians, historical figures, and a confrontation with the dark supernatural syndicate over the fate of the United States and the earth.

With journeys into dimensional worlds, interactions with fantastic characters and creatures, and revelation of the current struggle between the spiritual forces of good and evil, LIBERATION draws the reader into a world where the spiritual dimensions and reality converge.

Setting is an important decision for writers. I asked Maria to discuss why she chose the skies above D.C. as the setting for her story. Here's what she had to say:

Different Than Any Other City in the United States by Maria Lucia

D.C. is different than ANY OTHER CITY IN THE United States. It holds within its very core the energy that founded this nation. It’s amazing. When you walk the streets you feel that something is different, that something goes deeper than the avenues and buildings. This is particularly true in the mall where you can see the monument of George Washington and the capitol. Something is kept alive in D.C., something that began 234 years ago and that we are a part of. This book is about today’s world. It holds within it pages powerful challenges that the human race is facing as well as the nation. There was no other setting for the story. I had to have a place that was meaningful to the challenges of today and to the voices calling out nationally and globally.







Born in Havana, Cuba, and having immigrated to the United States in 1960, Maria possesses a true and in-depth understanding of the power and unlimited potential of evolving and beginning again.

A University of Memphis education graduate and a professional musician and vocalist, Maria moved deeply into the study of music and launched a very successful musical career in 1984. It included experiencing music on the performance level and the educational level as well. She began her studies of the deeper aspects of music immersed in the wisdom of Stephen Halpern and the integration of the healing effects of music and sound. She developed her voice simultaneously with her ability to teach others how to create and bring out their own voice and soul through music.

In 1994 she completed a nine year position with the world renowned Howard Hanger Jazz Fantasy and left her music career to focus entirely on developing her teachings. She spent many years in private practice, facilitating her own seminars and counseling on creativity. Her experience includes programs for gifted children in the public school system and creativity seminars for musicians at the university level. She has been a musical director for church programs, composer of music, and a producer of concerts. She has traveled nationally, performing and delivering seminars for more than twenty years.

She presently resides in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area and has taken a sabbatical from teaching. She is working full time on her writings and on launching her new book, LIBERATION, Book One of The Andrusian Chronicles.

You can find out more about Maria Lucia at www.andrusianchronicles.com

Carolyn Wada and For Cory's Sake

Today's special guest is Carolyn Wada, author of For Cory's Sake.

The planet of Cory has been enslaved by Fear, by the threat of an end to their world. Roci's outward life typifies the plight of the Coryan people: he has no family; he has been forced into slavery; people are attempting to control him with both the threat and reality of physical violence. Roci is distinct, though, in that he has decided to live in a place he can control—in vivid imaginary lives and worlds which he has created within the untouchable space of his mind. He believes in families though he has never had one, and he believes in compassionate people willing to make sacrifices to save those who cannot save themselves.

William Bentler is a kind and quietly courageous father of seven. He cares deeply about the plight of the Coryan people, and has spent his adult lifetime trying to raise awareness of their plight among the civilian occupiers. He does this by publishing articles, essays and stories about the heart-wrenching realities of indigenous Coryan life. He also strove to teach compassion and sacrifice to his children throughout their lives.

When the oppressors appoint a new leader, the sacrificial toll on William's life rises to a new and very exacting level. Published dissent is now punished with physical, escalating penalties paralleling those given to the slaves. But William continues to write and publish, and then watches in distress (though with a little pride) as two of his children choose his lifestyle as well.

William's compassion and quiet courage eventually attract a valuable and unexpected ally. The family and their valuable friend struggle onwards—making choices and sacrifices, taking risks, accepting almost unbearable consequences. In the end, they learn how to gain freedom by conquering Fear . . . for Cory's Sake.

I've asked Carolyn to address the connection between her book and her concern for those children suffering from child abuse. Here's what she has to say:

I've been asked to write about how my concern for the problem of child abuse worked itself into the plot of For Cory's Sake. I've decided to hit on a few main themes from the development and background parts of For Cory's Sake (i.e. to avoid spoilers), and use illustrative examples from both my fantasy and the real world.

Theme #1—THE USE OF FEAR AS A MEANS OF CONTROL:

“I am sure,” said William, “that you are familiar with the force that is enslaving Cory?”

Kerry nodded and said, “The Bomb. The Ultimate Threat. The Bomb is Fear—Absolute Fear.”

The planet of Cory has been enslaved by a threat, by the threat of a Bomb that could quite literally end their world.

Now, a possible from the real world: “If you tell [about the abuse] 'they' will take you away, and you will never see your mommy again.” Said to a young child, this is a threat of an end to the world!

Theme #2—THE USE OF VIOLENCE AS A MEANS OF CONTROL:

“every infraction must be resolved with a punishment . . . combat every character flaw with escalating punishment until it's fixed. I think Captain Prackerd actually believes the planet will stop spinning if he allows people to speak against the government without retribution.”

In For Cory's Sake, the assumption of power by one violent man (Captain Prackerd) has a profound effect on the lives of those under him.

From the real world: Have you ever run into someone who believes it is his God-given duty to control his children with beatings? I have. Such a belief, in a person in power, has hard, far-reaching consequences for the little lives under him.

Theme #3—THE NEED FOR A “VOICE”:

[Cory's] voice is stopped by a heavy threat, which presses constantly down upon its mouth like a suffocating blanket. . . . We are Cory's mouthpiece, we are its transplanted voice.

These words were written by Weston Bentler, in his first published work as a “lightning rod.” The lightning rods are a very important group in For Cory's Sake. Most of the non-natives on Cory simply ignore the plight of the enslaved Coryans. The lightning rods are the only group speaking for the Coryans, who are in such a position that they CANNOT speak for themselves.

In the real world, many children are in need of adults to be their champions, to help them find or to be their voice. Children are at a disadvantage in experience, knowledge, options, access—really everything except innocence. Which brings us to . . .

Theme #4—THE INFORMATION GAP:

An information gap, the struggle to bridge it, and the consequences of both the gap and the bridging, make up the big, plot-driving theme of For Cory's Sake. I cannot give you the size of the information gap without giving away the climactic major plot twist of the story—but it is huge, and it is important. It is responsible for years of struggle and years of regret, and freedom comes only when it is bridged.

Abused children often suffer from an information gap. It appalls me how many years can be lost when a child does not know certain things. My body is my own. I can tell someone. I have rights, I have options, and I know what they are. Children need to know these things, and much heartbreak would be averted if all did.

I personally would like to better support the real-world people who work as champions for oppressed children: freeing them from violence and fear, giving them a voice, and helping them move from the chains of darkness into hopeful light. ALL author's royalties, from sales of For Cory's Sake, are and will be donated to organizations that provide services to abused, neglected or exploited children. This commitment was published with the book; it is printed on the back cover of For Cory's Sake.

The National Child Abuse Hotline, for the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam, is 1-800-4-A-CHILD.

Carolyn Wada is the oldest of seven children raised by two wonderful, supportive parents. She has a deep interest in children's issues. In particular, she is interested in supporting organizations that help child survivors of abuse.

More information about this aspect can be found via www.outskirtspress.com/ForCorysSake.

Magic, Mensa, and Mayhem by Karina Fabian--Book Review

Humor, mystery, and fantasy combine to create an outstanding story in Magic, Mensa and Mayhem by Karina L. Fabian.

This was not going to be one of those STUC (Save-the-Universe Cases). Just an all-expense paid trip to Florida to chaperone a group of Magicals at a Mensa convention for Vern the dragon detective and his partner, the mage Sister Grace.

Well, someone forgot to tell the pixies. They start pulling their pranks. Then the Brownies start cleaning and organizing things they aren't supposed to, and a hyped-up elf who is behind the times might declare war on Florida. And as if that's not bad enough, there's a Native American Trickster who can change forms and a Valkyrie heroine of legend who has turned her attention to bodybuilding and fashion design, both of whom create a little chaos of their own.

So much for that cushy job!

If you are looking for a deep fantasy novel, this isn't it. Magic, Mensa and Mayhem is, however, one of the most uproariously funny books you'll ever read. Honestly, I laughed so hard that my husband thought I had found my decades-long missing sense of humor.

Fabian proves once again that she is a master storyteller. Who else could combine a dragon detective, a magical nun, a host of other bizarre characters, and Oprah, and make it work so well?

Now, keeping in mind that I am not a huge fan of the fantasy genre, this book hooked me from the very first sentence. Actually, the Acknowledgements section caught my eye first, and I rarely read those. Fabian shares how the book came about, the origin of Vern, how she entered into a relationship with publisher Dindy Robinson of Swimming Kangaroo Books, and talks about where you can find Vern online.

Included at the end are two appendices. The first is "Uncle Vern's Glossary of Faerie and Mundane Terms" and the second contains the "Pronunciation of Elvish Names" found in the book and includes brief comments about each elf. Both appendices are as funny as the rest of the book.

Magic, Mensa and Mayhem is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a funny, offbeat story.

I leave you with a Vern quote that is also included at the back of the book:

"...Wisdom of the Ages, Knowledge of Eternity, and I end up a babysitter at the Smart Humans' Convention."


Title: Magic, Mensa and Mayhem
Author: Karina L. Fabian
Publisher: Swimming Kangaroo Books
ISBN: 978-1-934041-78-9
SRP: $13.99

Herbert Howard Jones and The Pyewiz and the Amazing Mobile Phone

Today's guest blogger is Herbert Howard Jones, author of the young adult fantasy novel, The Pyewiz and the Amazing Mobile Phone.


Journey to a frozen planet to find a long lost twin. An amazing crystal phone with incredible powers. A cunning old pirate wizard who must be stopped.

Schoolboy Terry Mctrain thinks the new tenant in his parent's guesthouse is strange. Stranger still is the reason why she is here. Then Terry learns about a twin brother he never knew he had, kidnapped by a pirate wizard years ago. Baffled by all this, Terry realizes there's a mystery to be solved, and a secret to be uncovered. But when he discovers that the fate of the world is also in his hands, he wonders...

Could this turn into the adventure of a lifetime?

Perhaps, but unless Terry and his friend Will travel to the other side of the solar system to solve this puzzle, there's a danger that the world would be destroyed, and his twin brother lost forever.

Who the devil is the Pyewiz?
by Herbert Howard Jones

I'd love to say that the Pyewiz is the very devil himself, but he's too human, possessing frailties that mere mortals know only too well. But despite what people think about the Devil, the one thing you can accuse him of is greed, because, according to some quarters, he possesses the world! And greed is what the Pyewiz has in abundance! To be fair, the Devil could also be said to be rather ambitious, and this is something the Pyewiz definitely has in common with him. Aside from this, the Pyewiz does not entirely consider himself to be a law-unto-himself. He is in fact fiercely loyal to his Queen, Queen Elizabeth I, and in his own mind is still fighting Elizabethan battles with the Spanish! But being sequestered on a planet millions of miles from earth does make this rather impractical, and so his MO is to pressgang the innocent into naval service, and he does this on his frequent and secret sorties to earth, in the dead of night. His objective is to become a force to be reckoned with in the known universe. But let's be honest, this is not a glorious pursuit, because he is primarily doing this off the back of slavery. In this respect he deserves to be taken to task. Also the Pyewiz, or pirate wizard, relies heavily on modern technology despite hailing from an overtly superstitious 15th century, and has actually never cast a magic spell in his life! But to sum up his best and worst characteristics, he has been said to be a scoundrel, a demon, the worst possible person you could meet, a rotter, a crook, a liar, a trickster, a person not to be trusted, a rotten so-and-so, a manipulator, a drunkard, a no good cheating gambler, a dirty stopout, a person to be avoided, a man of extremely poor character, an advocate of corruption, a snake in the grass, someone who is economical with the truth, a fruit cake, a loud mouth, an authoritarian and spiritually bankrupt bossy brute, and by his own reckoning, a bit of a loveable rogue. He is also a big man with a big mouth with a veracious appetite for food, liquor and treasure!

About the author:

Herbert Howard Jones was born in London in 1955, and went to Eccles Hall, a boarding school in Norfolk. Jones attended Lisburn college in Ireland and then worked in a wide variety of occupations, including law, as a porter at the BBC, in jewellery manufacture, publishing, and commercial art.

It was only in his fifties that Jones seriously sought publication. The Pyewiz and The Amazing Mobile Phone is his first book.

At the present time he is busily writing his second book and is painting. He hopes to have his first exhibition of art in London in the near future.

You can visit his website at www.science-fiction-fantasy.com.

Bruce Skye Creates a World for Grayrider

Today's guest blogger is Bruce Skye, author of Grayrider, the first book in his Deathsong Chronicles series where fantasy meets medieval magic.

About the Author:


A former technical writer, detail is important to Bruce Skye. His research for the Deathsong Chronicles included medieval armor and fortresses, as well as Celtic names and magic. "If you create a world, it must be consistent. And that's what I strive for Grayrider's world to be. I've built a database of material for each of the Deathsong Chronicles. Those databases aid me in keeping the world the same from book to book.

"When I wrote Grayrider, I followed the advice of Stephen King. I did not write the book following any sort of outline. I have no more idea than my readers do when I write a novel what will happen in the midst of the story. It makes it more exciting for both the readers and myself."

You can visit his website at www.bruceskye.com.

About the Book:



Gabriel, the exiled king of Rivalin, comes before King Airell to warn him the Ansgarian army will invade his kingdom before the night is over. Airell tells him he has no one to send. Gabriel wants revenge for the murder of his family by the Ansgarians. He decides to fight the incursion without help.

As this takes place, Deirdre (Airell’s daughter), flees the kingdom of Cynyr north of Boadhagh. She knows now her mentor, Morrigan, created the Ansgarian army her father has fought for years. She goes south to warn him of her. Because Deirdre does not believe in herself, the young sorceress has difficulty in performing magic.

Once she is reunited with her father, she tells both he and Grayrider about Morrigan. Her power is growing; only Gabriel’s magical sword may yet destroy her. He must go to Cynyr to fight her. He agrees if Deirdre attends him, seeking her counsel. On that journey they fall in love and foil many efforts by Morrigan to kill Gabriel by both armies and sorcerers.

Grayrider fights Morrigan and sees his beloved slain by the sorceress before he is finally able to kill her. He returns to Rivalin brokenhearted. The ending is a complete surprise the reader will not expect at all.

Bruce's turn:

In creating a world, where do you start? I started with a premise. Gabriel the Gray possessed a powerful magic sword. Okay, where did he get it? And, perhaps more importantly, why was it created to begin with? In doing so, I started writing a partial history of Grayrider’s world. Unlike Tolkien, I do not have the entire history of this planet laid out. But I gave just enough detail to satisfy the reader’s initial curiosity.

Being an Anglophile, I decided during this process I would use Celtic names for the characters.

As this happened, other questions cropped up. What kind of magic system was I going to use? And what would power the spells cast? Since I was using Celtic names, why not use a Celtic magic system as well? This required research (which I happily did). I had, long ago and far away now, used role-play gaming systems. Based upon that, I decided the necromancers of this world would create spells using their own mystical strength. And the strength used would decide how powerful the enchantment was.

With these fundamental aspects of this medieval world established, other details needed to be decided upon. What kind of medieval weapons and armor would be used by the different armies? How would fighting take place? What kind of tactics would be used? Again, I did research in these areas. I based one of the major battles depicted in the book on the Battle of Agincourt (which was well portrayed in Henry V, my favorite Shakespearean play).

And with the armies and kingdoms came another question: what would be the heraldry used by each realm? Being a former technical writer, detail is important to me. As these matters were fleshed out, I created a database of information I could reference to ensure things stayed consistent.

With those matters dealt with, it was time to create my characters to flesh out this world. One reviewer has written about Grayrider “I really like the characters in the novel because they are unique versus the typical fantasy archetypes.”

Gabriel the Gray’s best friend and companion in the book is an amazing black warhorse named Windfire. How did I explain the steed’s high intelligence and ability to breathe fire when combat came upon him and his master? The explanation was simple: Windfire was of an ancient, prized and now rarely seen breed of horse.

Another example is Kalen, the commander of the Boadhagh army. I’m a former naval officer. And I have always believed an officer takes care of his people. Kalen did just that to the point of grieving for his slain troops after a victorious battle. To that degree, perhaps the reviewer is right. My characters are unique.

I hope you see what I did here. I built the Grayrider world one step at a time, starting with a story concept or premise and then building upon that a history, structure and then characters which would make sense to readers.

Learn about the next three books in the Deathsong Chronicles by visting Bruce's website at www.bruceskye.com

WIN PRIZES!!!

The GRAYRIDER VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR '08 will officially begin on February 2 and end on February 27. You can visit Bruce's blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in February to find out more about his new book!

As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops.

Sienna Skyy talks about Villains and American Quest

It's time for the bad guys to roll on out. Today's guest blogger, Sienna Skyy is going to talk about villains and her book, American Quest.



Don’t you just love villains? I can’t seem to get interested in the heroes until the unsavories have churned them through the wringer. And in my opinion those unsavories are juiciest when they’re on the bad, bad, extra-bad side, but with enough complexity and hint of redemption that they’re still interesting.

My heroes in American Quest, Bruce and Gloria, are young lovers with uncommon depths of passion—for their work, for life, and for each other. They’re completely unaware that there’s another world out there, one full of demonic creatures called Maculs who gain power through crushing human virtues. One in particular, Enervata, is on a mission to defile love.

Villains tend to grow so fast in scale that as writers, we don’t really have to work hard to bring their personalities to life. They’re already chock full of conflict. I found it easiest to write about Enervata and his band of nasty minions: two gluttonous brothers who swill honey wine and lay booby traps, a mouthless wretch with shifty loyalties, and two half-bird, half-human creatures called canteshrikes. The canteshrikes live for all things sensory, be it the thrill of flight, sexual pleasures, or the art of pain.

As American Quest unfolds, Enervata abducts Gloria and lays a trap of seduction and temptation, trying to turn her to his side and renounce her love for Bruce and all that she cherishes. If he succeeds in breaking her, he gains enough power to enslave the earth; but if he fails, he will kill her. Bruce sets off on a quest to save his true love, never knowing whether she will remain loyal to him, and unaware that Enervata’s minions are lying in wait.

I suppose writers have enjoyed working with the wicked characters since the beginning of time. We never know what our heroes are capable of until they have to face challenges, heartbreak, and even devastation. One of my favorite literary villains is Sir Bruce sans Pitié from Mallory’s Le Morte d’Arthur. It seemed that any time the knights of Camelot achieved success on their quests, Sir Bruce would show up and wreak havoc. Some believed that he was actually one of Arthur’s knights who lived a double life as a rogue.

Another one of my favorites is Melville’s whale in Moby Dick, whose pure meanness drove Captain Ahab to conjure an even darker, more inescapable enemy: himself.

I’m curious about favorite villains among The Book Connection’s readers. Do you have a preference—man vs. man, man vs. beast, or man vs. nature? And who would you consider to be the best literary villains of all time?

Thanks for the opportunity to say hello. Happy reading!
--Sienna Skyy


The AMERICAN QUEST VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR '08 will officially begin on October 1 and ends on October 30. You can visit Sienna's tour stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com in October to find out more about her latest book!

As a special promotion, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author with a recent release or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available. The winner will be announced on our main blog at www.pumpupyourbookpromotion.wordpress.com on October 30!