AUTHOR INTERVIEW: RJ Mirabal:The Rio Grande Parallax Series

Welcome all to The Magic of Solstice Fantasy Writers Tour hosted by DKC Fantasy Publishing Company  Authors and Angels is proud to be a part of this exciting tour. All through the month of June I will be featuring interviews, book reviews with smoldering new fantasy authors you should be paying attention too! To kick off this event I had the lovely opportunity to sit down with fantasy author RJ Mirabal of the The Rio Grande Parallax Series


JC: If you could sum up your book in two words what would they be?

RJM: Passionate adventure.

JC: What is your target audience for your book? And why Fantasy?

RJM: Adult readers with leanings toward fantasy/magical realism, ages 18 and up. I have found most of my readers are women in the 40-70 age range which surprised me because I expected a gritty fantasy adventure book written from the male point of view would have more appeal to men. However, I know women read more than men, so there you are! I choose fantasy because I can create my own world with my own rules, doing all the research in my mind, but I have to be careful to keep it all straight!

JC: Who is your muse when writing? What is your inspiration?

RJM: Strange as it may seem, I am my own muse because I write what fascinates and appeals to me inspired by my own odd view of things. Outside of me—the terrain, climate, environment, cultures, people, history, and atmosphere (are those enough features?) of New Mexico provides constant inspiration.

JC: Do you have any secret writing tips?

RJM: No secrets: plain old bashing my way through words, sentences, and paragraphs until it reads and feels right… Then I let my editor loose on my manuscript so I know it’ll fly professionally!

JC: Straight and simple, I like that. Now what do you love most about writing?

RJM: Creating the story, characters/motivations, and setting followed by writing it out hammering away at the ideas, dialogue, and images. After that the revising, marketing, promotion, etc. leaves me cold—just can’t enjoy that part, not in my nature. Although I do like talking about the stories with readers.

JC: I can perfectly relate to that. Okay next question. I prefer mornings to write. Sometimes that doesn’t always happen, but do you have a personal favorite time of day to write?

RJM: Best time for me is after lunch until about 5 pm. But, that doesn’t happen often so I write when I can. Life interrupts a regular writing schedule, especially all the other things I enjoy doing along with volunteering! So it’s “catch as catch can.”

JC: Amen to that! Thank you so much RJ.
CHECK OUT RJ MIRABAL’S EXCITING SERIES!

o Don Vargas, a man who has lost his way.
o A rundown casita near the Middle Rio Grande Valley in New Mexico.
o Nightwing, a bat offering an unlikely hero a formidable quest.
o A Portal to another valley, the Valle Abajo, where lifestyles are primitive.
o Clans in the Valle Abajo begging for help to overcome the Soreyes, a wily clan terrorizing the valley for generations.
o A Tower erected by the Soreyes which seems to be a mysterious source of their power. All this leads to a unique modern fantasy involving curanderas, an alcoholic looking for escape from the failures of his life, an enigmatic bat who manipulates events behind the scenes, adventures, a beautiful woman, and more surprises in this contemporary New Mexico-based tale.

 AVAILABLE NOW FREE IN EBOOK EPUB and MOBI@  Black Rose Writing  *** ALSO @　 Amazon  **　 Barnes&Noble  **　 Smashwords

　 Signed copy from the author or other questions, email: rjmirabal@gmail.com

Extreme Dust Storms May Exist(Book 2 of the Rio Grande Parallax series) Release date Mid July 2015

(release date coming up in mid-July 2015):
It is five years after the final events of The Tower of Il Serrohe and Esther, a sixteen-year-old honor student and athlete, suffers a mysterious accident and dreams of a valley much like her Rio Luna home, yet ominously different. Next, a bat repeatedly slams its body against her window during a powerful wind storm and she hears a whispering in the darkness.
It is the bat, Nightwing, who persuaded Don to take on his mission in The Tower. Nightwing begins to persuade Esther, Don’s younger cousin, to use her intelligence and resourcefulness to drive away the Soreyes from the Valle Abajo—the valley of her dreams. As she shares these disturbing details with her best friend, Markey, they both worry Esther is going insane. However, new dangers threaten when word reaches the Valle about a murderous clan in the far away Mountains of Sky east of the Valle while in the west there lives another band of Soreyes. Meanwhile, a mysterious presence lurks in the background as the saga of the Rio Grande Parallax continues.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:RJ Mirabal loves the Middle Rio Grande Valley having lived there for most of his life. Los Lunas High School 2006 Teacher of the Year, author RJ Mirabal, went on to win the Excellence in Education Award for NEA-New Mexico in 2007, having taught English, speech, drama and computer literacy. Now happily retired, he purses writing and music while volunteering with a motorcycle club and teachers’ organizations. RJ enjoys exploring New Mexico’s wilderness areas on his four-wheeler and traveling with his wife, Cheryl. The Tower of Il Serrohe is his debut novel
  



 VISIT MIRABAL AT: http://rjmirabal.wordpress.com/

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GUEST POST: Renee Scattergood

  Happy Mother's Day! Keeping with Shadow Stalker: Broken Episode 8 theme I have invited the author herself Renee Scattergood to my blog to do a guest post. Take it away Renee!


Five Most Helpful Blogs
By Renee Scattergood

These are not the only blogs I read for information on writing, marketing and publishing, but they are the ones I have been getting the most helpful information from or help in general over the last several months. So I thought I'd share them with you. Hope they help you as much as they've helped me!

1) Dragon Knight's Book Promotions – I have found participating in blog tours to be an invaluable way to build my platform. I don't just do them for my own work. I love participating in other authors' tours as well. It's a great way to meet new people and it drives a lot of traffic to my blog. I always get new signups to my newsletter every time I participate in a tour as well (whether it's my own or someone else's). Kathryn Jenkins and everyone else at DKBP do a really great job in organizing tours, so I highly recommend them. If you're not ready to do a tour for your own work, but you want to start building your platform, sign up to host other tours. You'll be amazed by how much traffic it drums up for your blog, and you'll be helping someone else in the process. It's a win/win.

2) Write to Done – Write to Done is a great resource for writing tips, for everything from grammar to plot development. They also have quizzes to test your grammar knowledge, writing prompts and other things to get your creativity going, and if you're feeling up to the challenge, you can even submit your own guest posts and be featured on their blog, which would be great for helping to build your platform. They have a newsletter where they send out periodic articles and tips as well, and for signing up you get the free ebook, The Nearly Ultimate Guide to Better Writing.

3) Out:Think Blog – The Out:Think Blog is written by author, Tim Grahl, who also works as a marketing consultant for authors, helping them build their author platforms. Both his blog and newsletter have really great information, which has helped me over the last several months with building my own author platform.

4) Writing Room 101 – This is a great place to have your work featured, whether it's to have an author spotlight, do a cover reveal, interview, reviews and more. There are also a lot of writing prompts to help you get into gear. In the near future, other helpful articles will be added to help authors with writing tips, marketing and promotion, editing and publishing. I believe they are looking for contributors, so if you're interested, it will be a great way to get your name out there and build your author platform. At the very least you might find your new favorite author! I will be contributing there in the near future as well, and I'm really looking forward to it.

5) The Blog of Author Lindsay Buroker – Lindsay Buroker is an indie fantasy author who has been very successful. She shares a lot of articles on her blog about marketing methods she's used successfully as well as writing and editing tips. It's been incredibly helpful. She also accepts guest posts if you have something to write that she wants to add to her blog.

I'd also like to add that I have a blog, called Renee's Author Spotlight, where I feature indie and small press authors. If you have a cover reveal, new release, or just want to let people know about your work, head over there and fill out the form so I can add you to my list of growing authors.

I'm always on the lookout for other blogs that can help me in my career as an indie author. If you know of one, please share! :-D

AVAIABLE NOW! ON AMAZON  BARNES&NOBLE AND SMASHWORDS


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Renee Scattergood, author of the fantasy series, Shadow Stalker, and novella, Demon Hunt, lives in Australia with her husband and daughter. Aside from writing, she loves reading (Fantasy, of course), watching movies with her family, and doing crafts and science experiments with her daughter. Find out more about her, and sign up for her newsletter on her blog for a free copy of her latest episode of Shadow Stalker: http://reneescattergood.com

Author Pages:

Renee Writes: http://reneescattergood.com/ - my personal website and blog.

Renee's Author Spotlight: http://reneesauthorspotlight.blogspot.com.au/ - a blog where I feature indie and small press authors.

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00NTJY1W2

Smashwords Author Page: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/rscatts

Social Media:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/reneescatts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReneeScatts

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/118427336236369690813/+ReneescattergoodAuthor/posts



 

Book Review: Shadow Stalker: Broken Episode 8

Renee Scattergood has released the next episode in her exciting Shadow Stalker Series with Broken. If you are not familiar with this series check out my reviews of Episodes 1-6

Renee has created an amazing detailed world as well as a gripping story.

Synopsis:Auren finds a way to escape the pain of her torture, but when Makari realizes it's preventing him from "cleansing" her, he finds ways of randomizing the pain to keep her present. Still, she does not succumb to the torment.

When Makari can't get through to her, he decides Drevin, the emperor of the Galvadi, is right. Auren is the delohi-saqu. Now Makari is no longer concerned with cleansing her because the delohi-saqu cannot be cleansed. He resorts to more sadistic methods to extract information about the Coalition. If Auren can't resist, her friends and hundreds of innocent people will die.

Review:
First of all as a fellow writer I am impressed with Scattergood’s writing style. The flow of her words from the page make following along effortless. Sometime writers can get a bit flamboyant in their writing style that can sometimes cause a re-read of that passage again. I also loved her character development. She has created some really excellent in-depth characters that you feel like you have known forever.

Now to the story aspect. Wow! The series has taken a dark turn, and the title explains the episode perfectly. Spirits are broken. Minds are shattered. Will is lost. What would you do if you found yourself falling in love with your torturer? What if your torturer loved you, but tortured you anyway? That is the theme in Episode 8: Broken. It’s a physiological te-a-te between captor and punisher. Auen knows her torturer and herself have an undeniable bond. He is all that she knows, yet there is something more to their connection than Auren having a case of Stockholm syndrome.

Overall this was an enjoyable read. I found myself getting drawn into the story. This is the best episode by far.

**PURCHASE*** Amazon         Smashwords          Barnes&Noble                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

About the Author:

Renee Scattergood, author of the fantasy series, Shadow Stalker, and novella, Demon Hunt, lives in Australia with her husband and daughter. Aside from writing, she loves reading (Fantasy, of course), watching movies with her family, and doing crafts and science experiments with her daughter. Find out more about her, and sign up for her newsletter on her blog for a free copy of her latest episode of Shadow Stalker: http://reneescattergood.com

Author Pages:

Renee Writes: http://reneescattergood.com/ - my personal website and blog.

Renee's Author Spotlight: http://reneesauthorspotlight.blogspot.com.au/ - a blog where I feature indie and small press authors.

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00NTJY1W2

Smashwords Author Page: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/rscatts

Social Media:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/reneescatts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReneeScatts

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/118427336236369690813/+ReneescattergoodAuthor/posts


　

　

INTERVIEW with KJ Hawkins: The Magical Muse: A Collection of Fantasy Stories

My Last author interview from The Magical Muse: A Collection of Fantasy Stories. I got to interview brand new indie fantasy author KJ Hawkins!

How exciting is it to be a part of this fantasy book collection?


KJ: It is very exciting. There is nothing like it to compare it to when you look at the pages inside the cover that you know you wrote. It’s a wonder and a joy that can’t be replaced by many things.

Is writing Fantasy your favorite genre?


KJ: Absolutely! I have loved the fantasy genre since I was a child. I actually hated reading and was stuck in a slow learners class. I don’t remember the book now but I stumbled a crossed it in the school library. Just for fun I decided to check it out and it was my first chapter book I finished. After that I was hooked and became a book lover. Till this day I will get lost in a book and just love the feeling of being off in another world.

It seems every writer has a process when it comes writing. What is your writing process?


KJ: Don’t break the computer! Just kidding. I would have to say that creating an outline helps me to a point. If I break the chapters down and include bits and pieces I want in it then it seems to come easier for me.

I am usually not much of a planner but ever since I started doing this I tend to write faster and longer. It must be a good process since I don’t write myself into as many corners as I used to do…LOL.

Now for some fun questions! Writing tool of choice. Pen and paper or computer?


KJ: Computer is my chosen tool. I have tried writing with pen and paper and it doesn’t work. My hands just can’t keep up with my mind. However I’m really fast at typing so it works better for me.

Do you have any muses or other authors that inspired you to write?


KJ: I would say my top muse right now that inspires me is Renee Scattergood. She is one of my fellow indie authors and she has been teaching me a lot. Between helping me figure out my own style and how the marketing world works. Renee is an awesome support system along with my other friends and I don’t know if I could do half of what I do without them.

How do you like to read? Paper? Or Digital?


KJ: Both. I love the smell of books and call it my collection. However lately I don’t have a lot of space to put paperback books so my digital library has defiantly been growing.

Worst book you ever read?


KJ: Hmmm…do textbooks count J . When it comes to books I don’t really recall a book that was so bad I would name it out for everyone to see. I am not above throwing a textbook under a bus though.

Have you ever fallen asleep reading?


KJ: Not that I recall. I have been known to stay up all night reading then turning around after two hours of sleep, possibly not even that, and going straight to school. Don’t want to tell you how many times I used the classroom for sleep over my bed.

Ever fallen asleep writing? I’ve done this. I think it showed my dedication to my writing…What do you think? Have you ever fallen asleep writing?


KJ: No I haven’t. When I get tired I get sloppy and tend to jumble things together. It irritates me when that happens so I tend to stop before I start deleting everything I worked hard on to complete.

Sometimes though the best writing can come from lack of sleep. Anyways now when is your favorite time to write? Morning? Afternoon? Evening? Nights? Or whenever the mood strikes you?


KJ: I have moods that strike out of the clear blue. There are times I write great at night, which hasn’t been recent lately. When it comes to mornings I have noticed that I write more and longer without getting tired. I do have an antsy problem so my wiggly legs usually let me write for about an hour before I have to get up and pace.

Close us out with your favorite literary quote!


KJ: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”

~Les Brown

　Please check out KJ Hawkins short in The Magical Muse: A Collection of Fantasy Stories now available on Amazon and Smashwords


　


Stories of fantasy ranging from dark, to light and inspiring, bring life to this anthology. The creatures featured throughout, both good and evil, display the devastating or wonderful personalities they were given by the authors who created them for your enjoyment.
Alexis Lantgen brings a twist to the story of a fairy changeling, showing a dark evil intent behind this mythological practice.
Andrea R. Cooper turns a dark fantasy tale into a lyrical piece that tests your understanding of your own mind.
George L. Duncan features a creature many never saw coming as the source of justice in a corrupt world.
Dark fantasy takes a humorous twist with Oz Durose, who introduces us to a new type of zombie that makes you regret deleting the files off your very own computer…readers beware!
Mythological hounds are a foreshadowing of doom for one man seeking refuge from their deadly chase. Allison D. Reid brings a tale of adventure as seen through the eyes of the hounds and their mysterious master, born from the darkness of hell.
Demons lurking throughout this tale bring a monster into the world. A demi-god finds out her fate as KJ Hawkins spins a tale of triumph and fear.
Matthew Frassetti presses the will of a man trying to save his lover from the hands of a demon. The bonds of friendship between man and beast are tested as this tale of adventure takes a twist.
Brendan Carroll brings a brilliantly fun, entertaining story to life, showing how in the midst of everyday beauty, time simply passes when you least expect it.
Khushi Agarwal tests the power of Christmas cheer with elves on strike. Will Christmas come on time, or will it be ruined for all?
The holidays are here as D.B. Mauldin brings a hard working elf into the spotlight for a special Christmas festival.

　ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

KJ Hawkins is a young fantasy author making her way into print. She has had a strong love for fantasy since she was nine years old.

As an adult the magic stayed with her inspiring her to write stories of adventure and magic. Hawkins, at her best, brings personality to every word she writes, exciting her readers with every page.

Fun Fact

KJ Hawkins is actually a pen name taken from the initials of her real first and last name. Hawkins came from her favorite childhood film, Treasure Planet, the lead character is James Hawkins!

                                                                  

                                                                                                                    

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INTERVIEW with D.B. Mauldin: The Magical Muse: A Collection of Fantasy Stories

 

Blogger of Mama Bear Muses, Judge of the Magical Muse writing contest, and now published author D.B. Mauldin got to contribute her writing talents to The Magical Muse collection.

I was privileged to get a chance to sit down and talk to this talented writer.

How exciting is it to be a part of this fantasy book collection?


D.B M: It is very exciting to me because this is my first short story to be published.
Is writing Fantasy your favorite genre?


D.B M: Yes, it is.

It seems every writer has a process when it comes writing. Why is your writing process?


D.B: With short stories, my writing process is usually a ‘fly by the seat of my pants’ style. I generally have a story in my head and it just comes pouring forth.

I recently started working on my first novel and I did outline it before I started.
So how did your prize winning story come about?


D.BM: There was a prompt and my story came forth from that.

Now for some fun questions! Writing tool of choice. Pen and paper or computer?


D.B.M:I prefer to outline with pen and paper, but the actual writing is done on my computer.

Do you have any muses or other authors that inspired you to write?


D.B.M: I do have a muse and she has been wonderful to me. As for authors that inspired me to write, I would have to say some of our own: Renee Scattergood, Melissa Barker-Simpson, Jan Marie, M.J. Moores, and Allison Reker.
　
Aww Thanks D.B.! Okay how do you like to read? Paper? Or Digital?


D.B.M: I enjoy reading both.

Worst book you ever read?


D.B. M: I’m not sure because if I’m not liking a book, I’ll quit reading it and never finish.
　
Have you ever fallen asleep reading?


D.B. M: Never when I was younger, but now, I’m sad to say that ‘yes’ I have fallen asleep reading a time or two.

Ever fallen asleep writing? I’ve done this. I think it showed my dedication to my writing…What do you think? Have you ever fallen asleep writing?


D.B. M: I have fallen asleep writing a time or two, also. I do think it shows dedication to our writing.

EXACTLY! Thank you D,B.! Back to the next question. When is your favorite time to write? Morning? Afternoon? Evening? Nights? Or whenever the mood strikes you?


D.B. M: My favorite time to write is in the morning. I have written into the afternoon before, but not often. I usually wake around sunrise, so that gives me a solid six hours to write before the afternoon.
　
I like morning writing too. My mind is the freshest. Close us out with your favorite literary quote!


D.B. M: “Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;”
Edgar Allan Poe ‘The Raven’.
Awesome, thank you D.B. Everyone again don’t forget to check out D.B. Mauldin short in “Magical Muse: A Collection of Fantasy Stories” Now on Amazon ANDSmashwords

Stories of fantasy from dark, light and inspiring bring life to this anthology. Creatures featured throughout showing the good and evil sides bring out the devastating and wonderful personalities they all receive by the authors that created them for your enjoyment.
Alexis Lantgen brings a twist the story of a typical fairy and helps showcase the dark evil intention many come to observe.
Andrea R. Cooper, turns a dark fantasy tale into a rhythmic piece that tests your understanding of your own mind.
George L. Duncan features a creature many never saw coming as the source of justice in a corrupt world.
The dark fantasy continues with Oz Durose showcases a new type of zombie that makes you regret deleting the files off your very own computer…what every you do beware the Z-Drive.
The hounds seize a foreshadowing of doom on one man seeking refuge from their deadly chase, Allison D. Reid, will bring adventure to her tale featuring hounds born from the darkness of hell.
Demons lurking throughout these tales brings a monster to the mix where a demi-god finds out her fate as KJ Hawkins spins a tale of triumph and fear.
Matthew Frassetti tests the will of a man to save his lover from the hands of a demon. The bonds of friendship will be tested between man and beast as this tale of adventure takes a twist.
Brendan Carroll brings a fun entertaining story to life showing off the everyday beauty of how simple time passes when you least expect it.
Khushi Agarwal tests the power of Christmas cheer with elves on strike will Christmas come on time, or will Christmas be ruined for all.
The holidays are here as D.B. Mauldin brings a hard working elf into the spotlight for a special Christmas festival.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  D. B. Mauldin is a professional writer and blogger with several articles, poetry, and short stories in publication.  You can read her work at http://mauldinfamily1.wordpress.com/. D. B. Mauldin is currently working on a book of short stories.
 

 

Author INTERVIEW: Andrea R. Cooper: The Magical Muse: A Collection of Fantasy Stories

 Today we are featuring Andrea R. Cooper whose short story When Darkness Hides is featured in The Magical Muse: A Collection of Fantasy Stories.

How exciting is it to be a part of this fantasy book collection?


AC: I’m thrilled and thankful. Fantasy is my favorite genre to read (and write)
Is writing Fantasy your favorite genre?


AC: Yes, though paranormal romance is tied for my favorite to write.
It seems every writer has a process when it comes writing. Why is your writing process?


AC: I have an idea or a character first. Then I write. I’m a total pantser. I tried writing an outline once and when I wrote the story, it deviated from the outline from the third page. Besides, I love discovering the story as I write.
So how did your prize winning story come about?


AC: When Darkness Hides, so far is the shortest story and longest it’s taken me to write. I wrote the first page when I was 18 and got stuck. I put it away. Off and on through the years, I’d dig it out and re-read it, but never felt what the middle and end should be. I thought it would never be read except by me.

Then many decades later, the writing contest asked for stories about Halloween-themed. I thought I might know how to finish the piece. And I was write. Looking back on it, I hadn’t had the life experiences to be able to finish the story when I was so young.
Now for some fun questions! Writing tool of choice. Pen and paper or computer?

AC: Computer. I hate my handwriting J

Do you have any muses or other authors that inspired you to write?


AC: My characters or a story idea inspire me to write.

How do you like to read? Paper? Or Digital?


AC: All. I love audio books for when I’m driving to work in traffic. I still love the feel of a book in my hands, but I love the cost of digital books and convenience of having many books at my fingers.
　
Worst book you ever read?


AC: I’ve read many. The first one I remember was a Christian Historical Romance with Vikings. The Viking just ‘happen’ to get saved without any logical reason. It felt forced and not true to history.

Have you ever fallen asleep reading?


AC: All the time. I’m a full-time mom to three kids: two under the age of six and work full-time. If’ I’m sitting or lying down and reading it cause the kiddos are asleep and being that still and quiet, I pass out quickly.

Ever fallen asleep writing? I’ve done this. I think it showed my dedication to my writing…What do you think? Have you ever fallen asleep writing?


AC: Never fallen asleep writing. Once I have time to write, I usually can’t stop. Even if I do, sometimes my story keeps me awake thinking of the next scene.
Guess I am talented then! Moving on! When is your favorite time to write? Morning? Afternoon? Evening? Nights? Or whenever the mood strikes you?


AC: Whenever the mood strikes me and the kids are asleep or playing with dad so I can write J

Close us out with your favorite literary quote!

AC: “It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to.”　
―　J.R.R. Tolkien,　The Lord of the Rings


Check out “Magical Muse: A Collection of Fantasy Stories” Featuring Andrea R. Cooper contest winning story When Darkness Hides now available on Smashwords And Amazon

Stories of fantasy ranging from dark, to light and inspiring, bring life to this anthology. The creatures featured throughout, both good and evil, display the devastating or wonderful personalities they were given by the authors who created them for your enjoyment.
Alexis Lantgen brings a twist to the story of a fairy changeling, showing a dark evil intent behind this mythological practice.
Andrea R. Cooper turns a dark fantasy tale into a lyrical piece that tests your understanding of your own mind.
George L. Duncan features a creature many never saw coming as the source of justice in a corrupt world.
Dark fantasy takes a humorous twist with Oz Durose, who introduces us to a new type of zombie that makes you regret deleting the files off your very own computer…readers beware!
Mythological hounds are a foreshadowing of doom for one man seeking refuge from their deadly chase. Allison D. Reid brings a tale of adventure as seen through the eyes of the hounds and their mysterious master, born from the darkness of hell.
Demons lurking throughout this tale bring a monster into the world. A demi-god finds out her fate as KJ Hawkins spins a tale of triumph and fear.
Matthew Frassetti presses the will of a man trying to save his lover from the hands of a demon. The bonds of friendship between man and beast are tested as this tale of adventure takes a twist.
Brendan Carroll brings a brilliantly fun, entertaining story to life, showing how in the midst of everyday beauty, time simply passes when you least expect it.
Khushi Agarwal tests the power of Christmas cheer with elves on strike. Will Christmas come on time, or will it be ruined for all?
The holidays are here as D.B. Mauldin brings a hard working elf into the spotlight for a special Christmas festival.

About the Author:

Andrea R. Cooper found the characters she once imagined as a child calling her back to their fantasy worlds of danger, romance, and bewitchment. Her stories, stoked by these familiar friends, reignited a bonfire of love and enchantment. Her novel, The Garnet Dagger received the UP Author’s 2013 Seal of Approval. For more visit www.andreaRcooper.com


　

　

　

　

　


　

AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Alexis Lantgen( The Magical Muse: A Collection of Fantasy Stories)

Dragon Knight Chronicles host a writers contest every year where an author can submit a short fantasy story to be featured in their annual fantasy stories publication. I have the honor of interviewing one such winner Alexis Lantgen!

　

　
How exciting is it to be a part of this fantasy book collection?

AL: It’s a big encouragement to my writing. Though I’d finished a first draft of my novel by the time I wrote “Switched,” I hadn’t written many short stories before. I was excited my writing got so much recognition!

Is writing Fantasy your favorite genre?

AL: Yes, though I try to read as widely as I can. I love fantasy classics, from The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings to the Harry Potter series. I also enjoyed books like Mists of Avalon.
 

It seems every writer has a process when it comes to writing. What is your writing process?

AL: I keep a writing journal for notes, ideas, and sometimes short outlines. When I’m looking for an idea, I read through my journal to see if there’s anything in there I’m ready to work on. After that, it’s a matter of finding the time and energy to write. I work part-time teaching violin and viola lessons, and I play both instruments in a local symphony orchestras. Between working as a free-lance musician and caring for my energetic daughter, I usually have to write on my work breaks or at night. It takes a lot of focus to keep going, but I love working on creative projects.



So how did your prize winning story come about?

AL: When I had my daughter, I was in labor for fourteen hours before my doctor told me I needed a C-section. Even though C-sections are fairly safe and I trusted my doctor, it was still a terrifying moment. I didn’t calm down until I held my new baby in my arms--one of the most beautiful moments of my life so far. But I think the fear stayed with me, too. They give you so many different drugs, and you get so little sleep in the hospital--I think all new parents go a little crazy for a while. My story grew out of my fears.


Now for some fun questions! Writing tool of choice. Pen and paper or computer?


AL: All of the above! I use pen and paper for my writing journal. It helps me brain storm. But for most of my actual writing, I work on a laptop computer.


 Do you have any muses or other authors that inspired you to write?


AL: I have a good friend, Sarah Mensinga, who’s a fantastic writer and an artist. She invited me out to her writing group when I first started writing, and I think that was a huge encouragement. It’s so helpful when you have people to critique your work and give you good feedback.


How do you like to read? Paper? Or Digital?

AL: Right now, paper. I have an e-reader, but it’s super slow and out of date. I need to get a new one, which I think I’d enjoy way more.


 Worst book you ever read?


AL: Anything by Ernest Hemingway. His misogyny is too vicious for me to enjoy any of his books.

Have you ever fallen asleep reading?


AL: Not often, since I have a super-natural ability to stay awake indefinitely if I’m reading something I really like.

Ever fallen asleep writing? I’ve done this. I think it showed my dedication to my writing…What do you think? Have you ever fallen asleep writing?


AL: Ha ha, no. I think the screen keeps me awake. If I get to tired to focus, I stop for the night.

 
A writer who knows her limits! Okay now when is your favorite time to write? Morning? Afternoon? Evening? Nights? Or whenever the mood strikes you?

  AL: I like afternoons, but I can only write then if I have a break at work. I don’t usually mind writing in the evening or at night, but if I’m tired from a long day it’s hard to focus. I’m not a morning person, so I don’t try to do anything then.

Close us out with your favorite literary quote!


AL: I can’t choose between “Fear is the Mindkiller,” and “If they give you ruled paper, write the other way.”

Beautiful! Thank you for taking time to talk with me. Congratulations again on your publication.


AL:You’re welcome. You can see more of my writing at my blog, The Wise Serpent, and you can find me on twitter @TheWiseSerpent.


　Don’t forget to check out Alexis Story in “ The Magical Muse: A Collection of Fantasy Stories” now available on Smashwords 

AND Amazon












ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alexis Lantgen is a musician and writer who holds a master’s degree in music performance from Florida International University, as well as a Bachelor of Music in viola performance and a Bachelor of Arts in Letters (Magna cum Laude) from the University of Oklahoma. She performs on violin and viola in orchestras including the Wichita Falls Symphony and the San Angelo Symphony. Currently, Alexis teaches private violin and viola lessons, and in the past she's taught eighth grade English and ESL in Dallas public schools. Her first novel is a YA Urban Fantasy about a young African American boy with special powers who must save his sister from an evil voodoo sorcerer. She hopes to finish revising her first draft by January 2014. In addition to her novel and short stories, Alexis writes poetry and a blog, thewiseserpent.blogspot.com.
  













 
 

Book Review: Shadow Stalker: Part 1 (Episodes 1-6)

I’ve featured excepts. I’ve done author interviews on Renee Scattergood’s hit serial Shadow Stalker. To be honest though I have never read the books! Now Renee has released a bundle pack that features episodes 1-6 . Its perfect for those who are wondering what this serial is about, and to catch up quickly. So here we go!

Synopsis

Auren learns that she is destined to enslave the people of her world, and Drevin, emperor of the Galvadi Empire is determined to end her life before it happens. Her foster father, Kado, has sworn to protect her and trains her as a shadow stalker. But her training is cut short, when their people are overrun by the Galvadi Empire. Now she has to find a way to help her people without succumbing to the prophecy.

Review　

When I pick up a book it is a challenge to that of the author to wow me. To entertain me as a reader, and as a writer. Renee Scattergood does both.

I liked this story. I was drawn in as we first meet Auren as a little child having a “so called nightmare“, and her foster Father Kado with his attempt to comfort her. We then shift to present where Auren is now 18 years old wanting to go on a camping trip with her friends. Her Foster Father warned her not to go. Auren of course goes learning  learns the hard way why Kado said no, which evidently leads to her learning who she is and the prophecy about herself. The adventure doesn’t let up as we taken deeper in learning more and more about the Galvadi Empire, and Shadow Stalkers.

Scattergood’s writing style is riveting. I just loved the way her words flowed, her character development is awesome. I loved these characters! They are relatable. You are drawn to them instantly. You feel for them along with their struggles. I also loved the relationship between Kado and Auren. These two are wonderful, strong characters. They are just perfect characters. A recommended read!

Available NOW!

Amazon Kindle　


Smashwords　


Createspace

  



About The Author: 

Renee Scattergood, author of the fantasy series, Shadow Stalker, and novella, Demon Hunt, lives in Australia with her husband and daughter. Aside from writing, she loves reading (Fantasy, of course), watching movies with her family, and doing crafts and science experiments with her daughter. Find out more about her, and sign up for her newsletter on her blog: http://reneescattergood.com

Author Pages:

Renee Writes: http://reneescattergood.com/ - my personal website and blog.

Renee's Author Spotlight: http://reneesauthorspotlight.blogspot.com.au/ - a blog where I feature indie and small press authors.

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00NTJY1W2

Smashwords Author Page: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/rscatts

Social Media:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/reneescatts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReneeScatts

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/118427336236369690813/+ReneescattergoodAuthor/posts
 

Author Spotlight: INTERVIEW Shadow Stalkers Renee Scattergood

Aussie, and fantasy indie author Renee Scattergood latest episode (7) Bound by Fate from her epic Shadows Stalkers series has just be released! And I got the awesome privilege to interview her about writing, and of course Shadow Stalkers Series: Bound by Fate.

JC: Episode 7: Bound by Fate, the latest chapter in the Shadow Stalker Series, has just been released. How did you give birth to this amazing series?

RS: Originally I intended to write it as a series of novels (which is still in the plans). I came up with the idea for it back in 2006 I think it was, after reading The Celestine Prophecy. The character, Kado, just came to life in my mind. I knew from the beginning he wouldn't be the main character, but maybe the main character's mentor. The story slowly developed over the next few years after that.

JC: Where did the idea come from to do this series in a serialized format? You know Stephen King did the same with Green Mile.

RS: Actually, yes. It was Stephen King who originally inspired me to write a serialized version of the story. I wanted to do it like a TV series though, rather than publishing chapters. That's why I call them episodes. Like I said, originally I wanted to write novels, but I was afraid to put all the effort into a novel that wouldn't do well. I felt like I needed some practice in the self-publishing world before taking on such a huge venture, so this seemed the best way to do that. It's been a great experience for me and now I finally feel ready to write the novels.

JC: The series seems to slowly creeping down a darker path as we progress. Will there be a light at the end or can you not reveal that yet?

RS: It's going to get darker, but yes, there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel. :-D

JC: I’ve asked other authors this question before and now it's your turn. How do you come up with character names? Do your character names mean anything?

RS: Actually, I cheat. I use name generators. Sometimes I change the spellings of the names I find, but I would never get anything accomplished if I had to come up with the names on my own. They don't have any special meaning or anything. I just choose names that sound good to me.

JC: The Shadow Stalker Series is of course fantasy. What is your draw to fantasy?

RS: I've loved fantasy since I was a kid. It was the only thing I really enjoyed reading. The first fantasy novel I ever read was The Hobbit, and I was hooked ever since.

JC: A lot of issues with some people is finding time to write. How do you find time to write?

RS: I just write when I can really. Every spare moment I have during the day, I spend writing. I have to go to school with my daughter 4 days a week because she can't go on her own. I volunteer in the library there and 4 hours a day while I'm there is dedicated to writing as well.

JC: Everybody can write. We learn to write in school. Do you believe though it takes a special person to be a quote: “Writer?”

RS: No, I believe anyone can be a writer. All it takes is desire and lots and lots of practice. Learning to be a great writer is a lifetime endeavor. I think anyone who is willing to put in the effort can do that. I think it's been said that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert or master at something. So just strive to spend at least 10,000 hours doing the thing you love and you will be great at it. :-D

JC: Now time for my famous fun question segment! Ready?

RS: Absolutely!

JC: Paperback or digital?

RS: Both, digital for a new book, paperback if I really like it and intend to read it over and over and over…

JC: Computer or notebook?

RS: Computer for my actual writing, but a notebook for working out story ideas and doing timelines and stuff.

JC: Coffee or Tea? Yes random I know.

RS: Depends on my mood and the weather. Generally speaking I like tea in the summer and coffee in the winter.

JC: Favorite Author?

RS: It changes regularly, but right now it's Lindsay Buroker.

JC: Worst book you ever read?

RS: I don't remember the title, but it was a freebie on Kindle. I didn't even make it through the first chapter, and that's saying something with me. If the story is good, I can usually overlook bad grammar and stuff, but this one was just bad all around.

JC: Have you ever fallen asleep reading a book?

RS: Yes, quite often. And when I'm reading on my tablet, it tends to be very painful if I'm lying on my back.

JC: Ever fallen asleep writing?

RS: No, I can honestly say I've never done that. I daydream a lot though.

JC: Best interview you’ve EVER done, huh?

RS: It was a lot of fun, yes! :-D

JC: Thank you Renee for taking time to sit down with me.

RS: No problem! I hope your readers have enjoyed it and will consider having a look at my blog and signing up to my newsletter: http://reneescattergood.com. I have a bad habit of giving away a lot of freebies. ;)

DON'T forget to get hooked onto the Shadow Stalker Series! Check out all past issues, and the new release of Shadow Stalkers Episode 7: Bound by Fate! Available now FREE at smashwords.com! 
enter CODE: YH88R
　

　



Auren escapes the Dark Isle to find things are worse on Appolia than she imagined. Very few have survived the invasion of the Galvadi Empire, and even her best friend, Jade, has gone missing.

While attempting a rescue, Auren is captured and faces abuse and torture at the hands of her enemies. She knows as long as she can hide her true identity, she might succeed in helping the Coalition, but one of the Galvadi knows she is the delohi-saqu. For his silence, she is forced to pay the ultimate price.
　

About the Author:
Renee Scattergood, author of the fantasy series, Shadow Stalker, and novella, Demon Hunt, lives in Australia with her husband and daughter. Aside from writing, she loves reading (Fantasy, of course), watching movies with her family, and doing crafts and science experiments with her daughter. Find out more about her, and sign up for her newsletter on her blog: http://reneescattergood.com

Connect with Renee at:

Renee Writes: http://reneescattergood.com/ - my personal website and blog.

Renee's Author Spotlight: http://reneesauthorspotlight.blogspot.com.au/ - a blog where I feature indie and small press authors.

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00NTJY1W2

Smashwords Author Page: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/rscatts

Social Media:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/reneescatts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ReneeScatts

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/118427336236369690813/+ReneescattergoodAuthor/posts