fantasy

70 posts

Awesome Con DC Review

This weekend I sold my books at Awesome Con DC. It was lots of fun and I did sell some books, although not as many as I had hoped. Here’s the rundown: The table cost $250, including two exhibitor badges. I initially had it to myself, but then found a friend, Becca of papertulipstudio, to share my booth. I used both badges, and she bought extra badges for herself and a friend. I’m pretty sure she made more money than I did, but oh well… that’s what happens when you share a booth with a talented artist! She’s a great […]

Guest Post: How to be Optimistic

I’m hosting guest authors through most of April and May, as I am swamped with Awesome Con DC and welcoming Baby Boy Brightley into the world. This guest post was written by Mike Reeves-McMillan, the author of Realmgolds, Hope and the Clever Man, and Hope and the Patient Man. How to be Optimistic Dystopian fiction is in at the moment, as is the closely related genre of post-apocalyptic. Everywhere you look (especially in the YA market) you see people struggling in a world where things have gone substantially more wrong than usual. I could talk about sociological reasons why this might be so, […]

Things Unseen: A Long-Forgotten Song (Book 1)

It’s done! Things Unseen (A Long-Forgotten Song) is out! Things Unseen is the first book in my new dark, urban, Christian fantasy series. You can read an excerpt here, as well as find purchase links for ebooks and paperbacks. I’d also VERY much appreciate any reviews of Things Unseen if you have a chance! Check out the fantastic cover art! I love it! I even had the full digital painting made into posters in preparation for Awesome Con DC this weekend. I’m thrilled with the cover designer and look forward to working with him on the rest of the books in […]

Guest Post: World-Building and Authenticity

I’m hosting guest authors through most of April and May, as I am swamped with Awesome Con DC and welcoming Baby Boy Brightley into the world. This guest post was written by Ben Blake, the author of Blood and Gold (Songs of Sorrow), The Gate of Angels (Songs of Sorrow), The Risen King, and A Brand of Fire (TROY). World-Building and Authenticity There’s an old quote about building characters, which Stephen King attributes to Thomas Hardy. I don’t know myself, but it goes; “Compared to the dullest human being walking on the earth, the most brilliantly drawn character in any novel […]

Title Reveal: Honor’s Heir (Erdemen Honor Book 3)

I finally have a title! The completed almost-final draft is off to one of my beta readers/my editor right now and I should have it back by the end of the week. I’m on track to publish it by Awesome Con DC in April. AND I should have a cover to reveal soon! Here’s a snippet from the near the beginning: The summer I turned twelve, my friend Tirta, his cousin Dathlo, and I were given the second significant test. Otso-ka decreed that we would steal wolf cubs. They would be raised until they were nearly adults and then killed […]

Extra: A Cold Wind – Scene from Riona’s Point of View

Kemen relates this scene from his point of view in A Cold Wind, and I thought it would be fun to tell it from Riona’s point of view… they have very different perspectives. If you have the paperback version, the scene starts on page 99 with I left the main company far behind… SPOILER WARNING: This is a scene close to the middle of the second book. There aren’t huge spoilers in here, but there are some pretty big clues, so if you don’t want anything spoiled, don’t read any further!   *** Kemen arrived back from Rikuto in the middle […]

A Writing Soundtrack for A Long-Forgotten Song

This is a soundtrack / playlist that I’ve been listening to while I work on A Long Forgotten Song, my new Christian urban fantasy supernatural thriller series. Unfortunately I can’t figure out how to reorder the songs, so it’s not exactly the order I want, but oh well.

Anniversary Post! Book Stats – 2013

On the first anniversary of publishing my first book, The King’s Sword, I thought it would be appropriate to post some statistics. It’s a bit scary to share book stats like this, but here goes: Books Published: 2 – The King’s Sword and A Cold Wind Books in Progress: 4 – A Long-Forgotten Song (publication in March 2014 – preorder here!), the as-yet-untitled sequel to A Long-Forgotten Song (publication in April/May 2014), Book 3 in the Erdemen Honor series (also untitled, publication in March 2014?), and Book 4 in the Erdemen Honor series (publication TBD) Books Backburnered: 2 Short Stories […]

Characters I Love – Samwise Gamgee

First, I should say that I’m a huge Lord of the Rings fan. I love all the characters. But I’m writing about Sam first because… well, he’s special. Why? Sam isn’t the smartest. He doesn’t think he’s brave. He’s not the “hero type.” Yet he rises to the challenges he faces in a way that puts any hero to shame. He’s humble. He’s generous. He doesn’t think of himself. Even when he’s lost hope, he keeps on going, because he’s not the giving-up type. He’s tougher, stronger, braver, and more important than he thinks he is. He’s a friend when […]

Guest Post: To Elf or Not to Elf

This is a guest post by Sabine A. Reed, the author of the The Demon Mages (Book 1 in The Power of Three series). Thanks, Sabine! Sabine also interviewed me on her blog. Hi, My name is Sabine A. Reed. I am a fantasy author, and I have been in love with mythological creatures and fantasy writing since I began to read. Today, I want to talk about one of my favorite, most mysterious and often used creatures in writing – elves. To Elf or not to elf; their role in fantasy The origin of elves is not known. They […]