The Lord of the Rings – Dab of Darkness Book Reviews

Interview: Hannah De Giorgis, Author of Threads in Time

Heya Folks! Please welcome Hannah De Giorgis to the blog today. She’s here to tell us a bit about herself and I’m excited to share a little about her time travel novel, Threads in Time.

What was the first major news story you remember as a child?

When Princes Diana died. I was sitting in my parent’s lounge; the news was on all day, and everyone was talking about it.

If candlemakers created a scented candle based on your latest book, what would that smell like?

An outdoor scent that’s fresh and exciting.

If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?

George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four, because it made such an impression on me when I first read it, aged sixteen, and I still think it’s one of the most powerful novels ever written.

What mystery in your own life could be a plot for a book?

My adventurous but simultaneously troubled adolescence.

If you could pick a fictional character to officiate at your wedding or renewal vows, who would it be?

Albus Dumbledore.

If warning labels and safety features didn’t exist, what would be the likely thing you’d die from?

I’d probably be hit by a car; I frequently absent-mindedly cross the road!

Is there a genre or literary niche that you feel hasn’t gotten it’s deserved amount of attention?

Literary speculative fiction – I feel it’s underappreciated in the world of academia but, commercially, it gets the success it deserves.

If you could, what book or movie or TV series would you like to experience for the first time all over again and why?

The Lord of the Rings trilogy. They’ve always been my favourite films and I often wish I could watch them for the first time again; I wonder whether I would be as enamoured with them as an adult as I was as a child!

What are the top 3 historical time periods and locations you would like to visit?

Renaissance Florence; Ancient Rome; 1920s London…

Would you prefer to visit Earth in 2100 or travel back to 1900 for a short visit? Why?

I’d prefer to visit Earth in 2100 because I like surprises. And we already know what to expect of the past.

If you were asked to create the syllabus for a college class in Time Travel literature, what books would be on there as required reading? As passing discussion?

The Time Machine by HG. Wells, obviously – it’s a classic and one of the first of its genre; Outlander by Diana Gabaldon because it’s just as interesting to think about travelling into the past as well as into the future; and finally, another classic – Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut.

Finally, what upcoming events and works would you like to share with the readers?

I’d like to encourage readers to visit my website, https://www.hannahdegiorgis.com, to check out my short stories, blog and poetry; and to look out for the Threads in Time sequel – This Moment I Stand On – due to come out in early 2020.

About Hannah De Girogis

Hannah was born and raised in the Cotswolds, England. After teaching English in Florence, Italy, for a time she moved to London, where she recently completed a Master’s in Modernist Literature at University College London. Prior to that, she studied English Literature at Birkbeck, University of London, where she graduated with first-class honours and won the John Hay Loban prize for student who shows the most promise in literature. Threads in Time is her debut novel. She now lives in London with her husband.

Website ~ GoodReads ~ Facebook

Book Blurb for Threads of Time: Twenty-two-year-old Lyndall Huxley wakes to find herself thousands of years into the future. Something went wrong with the programme for which she volunteered – a programme that employs Einstein’s laws of relativity to send travellers forward in time. The ruins overrun by green woodland in which she wakes are a far cry from the urbanised world she left behind in the 2200’s. Lyndall embarks upon a journey that will leave her questioning her very identity. She must choose between the new life that beckons and the old life from which, even thousands of years later, she cannot escape. She will discover that the mission was never about sending people into the future. Much more is at stake.

GoodReads ~ Amazon

Audiobook Giveaway & Interview: C. T. Phipps, Author of I Was a Teenage Weredeer

Everyone, please give a warm welcome to author C. T. Phipps. I really enjoyed his book, I Was a Teenage Weredeer and am very excited to see that Book 2 in the Bright Falls Mysteries was recently released, out in audiobook. So don’t miss the GIVEAWAY at the end of this post – an Audible.com version of I Was a Teenage Weredeer, narrated by Arielle DeLisle.

So, what’s your current book series out?

I just released the first two BRIGHT FALLS MYSTERIES novels out with I WAS A TEENAGE WEREDEER and AN AMERICAN WEREDEER IN MICHIGAN. They’re available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook format.

What are they about?

They’re my homage to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Veronica, and Twin Peaks. Jane Doe is a young waitress who is both a weredeer as well as psychic. When her old high school rival is killed, her brother is the chief suspect, and she must clear his name. That takes her into the secrets of Bright Falls, its shifter families, and the dark secrets whose consequences passed down from generation to generation.

“Kiss, Marry, and Kill.” Name one of your favorite book series and tell us which 3 characters you would kiss, marry, and kill.

Going with the easy answer of A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE as my favorite. If I had to make that choice I’d go with kiss Asha Greyjoy, marry Daenerys Targaryen (despite the fate of her husbands), and kill Cersei Lannister. Everyone else is either too young or would probably stab me to death. Actually, most of the above would stab me to death. Is it too late to change my answers to “some nice girl in Braavos?”

If I had to choose from I WAS A TEENAGE WEREDEER and kiss Maria Gonzales, marry Jane Doe the titular character, and then kill Victoria O’Henry. Maria is the kind of fun sexy Goth girl I used to date in college, Jane is pretty much the kind of companion I’d want (like my wife), and Victoria O’Henry is a dangerous manipulative psychopath–so maybe kiss her too. *a shoe is thrown by my wife*

If you owned a bookstore, what would you name it?

The DEER READER or Forest of Reading. I’d love for it to have a nice woodsy theme with pine smell as well as a place for reading around the fire.

If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?

I think I’d love a copy of PROVEN GUILTY (The Dresden Files 8#) by Jim Butcher signed along with maybe a copy of Patricia Briggs’ MOON CALLED (Mercedes Thompson 1#). They’re my favorite in their respective series and what caused me to really fall in love with both series.

What mystery in your own life could be a plot for a book?

Honestly, there’s not many mysteries worth speaking of in my life. I’m much better imagining them than participating in them. Mind you, any good writer could make an epic story out of my wife’s life. From struggling childhood to punk rock to marrying a dork like me.

If you could give any literary villain a happy ending who would you chose?

Bizarrely, I really would love to give Sauron or the Witch King a happy ending. He’s a guy who was enslaved by a magical ring and forced to become the enemy of his own kingdom before destroying countless armies of men. Then again, that was basically the plot of my book WRAITH KNIGHT. I also have something of an affection for Sauron himself as I like the idea of the Dark Lord trying to bring order to a chaotic one.

You’re granted a super power and given the chance to team up with 4 other superheroes (or supervillains). What power do you have and who have you teamed up with?

I’d like great magical power because that’s the power which keeps on giving. I’d also team up with Harley Quinn, Bane, Supergirl, and Selene from Underworld. If you find that a conspicuously specific group of heroes and villains then you’ve probably read my books.

If you could own a famous or historical art work, what would it be? Would you put it on public display or keep it privately?

I have an attitude toward famous works of art that the actual object doesn’t necessarily have any intrinsic value. Action Comics 1# is no more valuable than a reprint of it save to collectors but the story is still the same. I think a reproduction of the Mona Lisa or other art is the same way. So, instead, I’ll buy in bulk and say I’d love to own every piece of Twin Peaks merchandise ever made.

Care to share an awkward fangirl/fanboy moment, either one where someone was gushing over your work…..or one where you were gushing over another author’s work?

One of the most touching moments of my career as an author was when I received a letter from a fan who really liked the fact I’d included a transgender character and another from a reader who said he felt my books were very inclusive to the point they made him feel like I was a welcoming science fiction author for people like himself (he was a gay Indian man). I feel like fandom should always be encouraging people from outside it to be open to new people to experience the wonders of what you love. Lately, a lot of fandoms seem full of toxic people who don’t want them to welcome anyone new but make the existing fandoms smaller.

Another moment I absolutely loved was as a reviewer when I was contacted by Richard Knaak to review DRACONIS REX before its release. Richard Knaak was, notably, one of the authors I loved growing up reading and had steadily followed my entire adult life. We got to talk about quite a bit of fun stuff.

Finally, what upcoming events and works would you like to share with the readers?

I’ll be releasing WRAITH LORD, the sequel to my Wraith Knight novel, AGENT G: ASSASSIN which is the third novel in the Agent G series, ELDRITCH OPS of the Red Room series, and TOURNAMENT OF SUPERVILLAINY hopefully soon. I’m also working on the third novel in the Bright Falls Mysteries.

So very very busy.

Book Blurb for I Was a Teenage Weredeer

Jane Doe is a weredeer, the least-threatening shapechanger species in the world. Blessed with the ability to turn furry at will and psychically read objects, Jane has done her best to live a normal life working as a waitress at the Deerlightful Diner. She has big dreams of escaping life in the supernatural-filled town of Bright Falls, Michigan, and her 18th birthday promises the beginning of her teenage dreams coming true.

Unfortunately, her birthday is ruined by the sudden murder of her best friend’s sister in an apparent occult killing. Oh, and her brother is the primary suspect. Allying with an eccentric FBI agent, the local crime lord, and a snarky werecrow, Jane has her work cut out for her in turning her big day around.

Thankfully, she’s game.

Set in the same world as Straight Outta Fangton.

Places to Find C. T. Phipps

GIVEAWAY!

C. T. Phipps is generously offering up 3 copies of the Audible.com audiobook of I Was a Teenage Weredeer. You can enter the Rafflecopter below or you can answer these questions in the comments: 1) Do you have an Audible.com account? 2) If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why? 3) Please leave a way to contact you if you win. Giveaways ends July 27, 2018, midnight.

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Audiobook Giveaway & Interview: R. M. Mulder, Author of Conquest

Please give a warm welcome to science fiction/fantasy author R. M. Mulder! He’s here to talk dragons, Star Trek versus Star Wars, and plenty more! Check out the audiobook giveaway of his book Conquest! Scroll to the very bottom for that.

If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?

Any and/or all novels by Dan Brown (especially his Robert Langdon stories). In every single one of his stories, he opens up with a mysterious murder scene – and the mystery surrounding the murder isn’t revealed until much later in the story. The crafty way he explains away conspiracies is inspiring. I love the way he uses Third Person Omniscient narration to help us get inside the minds of his characters. He is hands-down my all time favorite author. In fact, I patterned my style of writing after his!

If you could give any literary villain a happy ending who would you chose?

Golem is a brilliant character in LOTR, and when the reader begins to learn that he used to be a Hobbit named Smeagle you really start to feel bad for the guy. I wish Golem could get a happy ending – more specifically, that there was a spell that could turn him back into Smeagle so that he could go back to the Shire to meet a Hobbit girl to fall in love with.

Would you rather have a dragon, or be a dragon?

Have a dragon. More specifically, the dragon in my story Tiamat, and have Lily’s divination abilities. I think it would be an amazing experience to be able to fly through the sky and watch historical events transpire like Lily does in vision.

If you could, what book or movie or TV series would you like to experience for the first time all over again and why?

Harry Potter. I read all seven books long before the movies ever came out. I spend days reading and reading. J.K. Rowling’s success story of being a single mom who struggled to find time to write was such an inspiration to me. Conquest was similarly written during stolen moments, typically in 15-minute writing sessions while at work on my break or during lunch.

What has been your worst or most difficult job? How does it compare to writing?

One of the tasks I complete at my current job is writing multi-page response letters to lawsuits against the company. It’s by far the most difficult job I’ve ever had, but yet the most rewarding. The process requires research, a lot of reading and studying, writing, rewriting, proofreading, editing, etc. It’s a very grueling process and is very comparative to my fictional writing processes.

If you were sent on a magical quest which other 4 fantasy authors would you take with you?

Dan Brown, Ernest Cline, J.K. Rowling and J.R.R. Tolkien.

What book should be made into a game (card, PC, board, etc.) and why? Is there a specific character who you would want to play in this game?

A bit of bias here: Mine. Inside my story you will find a fictional Augmented Reality game called DarkForce which is based off of the real world of Zion. Book 2 “War” is based a lot more inside the game world, and the purpose of the game is much more sinister in nature than meets the eye. In the game, I would like to play the part of Doug – a paranoid ex-cop who is addicted to the game. Being one of the longest-playing gamers, his stats are truly impressive.

In this age of publishing, self-promotion is really necessary for the author. What do you enjoy most about advertising yourself and your works? What do you find most challenging?

I enjoy blogging and finding like-minded authors. I love helping other authors by providing advice – especially newbies to the Indie scene. I’ve gained a lot of friends from all parts of the world. But what do I find most challenging? Trying to figure out how to market to readers without being spammy. My biggest pet peeve is when authors constantly pimp their books by only posting ads inside community social media groups. I find it extremely obnoxious!

What is a recurring or the most memorable geeky argument or debate you have taken part in?

Unlike a lot of geeks, I’m an avid fan of both Star Wars AND Star Trek. I’ve been in a large number of heated debates between the two sides. One particular debate was about pitting the Enterprise against the a Star Destroyer. Who would win? Now, hands down Enterprise A, B, and C would lose. Enterprise D in TNG? Hmmm. It’s a toss-up. But Enterprise E in First Contact would totally prevail! Easily.

If you could trade places with anyone (living or dead, real or fictional) for 1 day, who would it be and why?

George Lucas: just to be inside his creative mind for a day would be truly amazing. The fact that one man was able to create such a vast fictional universe is inspirational, and is a legacy I hope to someday achieve as well.

Finally, what upcoming events and works would you like to share with the readers?

The next big event I’ll be participating in will be B2B CyCon 2018 (Back to Books Cyber Convention) which will run in April. I’ll also be hosting various giveaways and discounts at random. Stay tuned to my events by signing up for my newsletter.

Places to Find R. M. Mulder

Website ~ GoodReads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Amazon

Book Blurb for Conquest:

An ancient continent is missing from Earth.

A primeval darkness threatens mankind.

A modern woman discovers her destiny.

When undercover agent Lily Thatcher is ordered to undergo a dangerous medical mind-wipe procedure prior to re-assignment, she avoids arrest and becomes a rogue agent. She quickly learns that there are much greater forces at work that are far beyond her comprehension.

Timur Demyan, formerly known as the feared Tamerlane of the ancient Tumurid Empire, has forged an alliance with a loathsome creature called the Leviathan. This beast’s insatiable hunger is currently being fed by another world’s few remaining souls.

For now.

Their paths meet at a showdown, but Lily knows that there’s far more at stake than just her mortality. A morbid question looms in the back of her mind:

Can she prevent Earth’s Apocalyptic Fate?

Amazon ~ Audible

GIVEAWAY!!!

Mulder is offering up 2 audiobook copies (1 Audible.com and 1 Audible UK) of his book Conquest! Do the Rafflecopter thing below or answer these questions in the comments: 1) Do you have an Audible.com or an Audible.co.uk account? 2) Would you rather be a dragon or have a dragon? 3) Leave a way to contact you if you win (email, twitter, etc.). Ends December 23, 2017, midnight.

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Ebook Giveaway & Interview: J. Scott Coatsworth, Author of The Stark Divide

Folks, please give a warm welcome to author J. Scott Coatsworth. We chat about what authors we’d want by our sides in difficult times, first book, and plenty more. Enjoy! Scroll to the bottom for the ebook giveaway of the M/M SciFi novel Skythane.

Is there a genre or literary niche that you feel hasn’t gotten it’s deserved amount of attention?

Funny that you should ask that – it’s one of the things I am bumping my head up against a wall with as we speak. I grew up reading classic sci fi – Clarke, Asimov, McCaffrey and the like. As a gay kid, I very rarely saw myself reflected in the work. So when I started writing it, I put people like me in the stories. I first found success in the MM romance market writing sci fi with gay characters (as well as a bit of fantasy and magical realism). It’s not always been a good fit – sometimes I’m a little too on the sci fi side for it to really be a romance. LOL…

With The Stark Divide, I’m back to writing what I loved as a kid – classic sci fi – but with a much more realistic mix of characters. It’s not a gay book per se. There are some gay characters, as well as some from other parts of the LGBT spectrum. But the primary driver is the story.

As I start to market the book, though, I’m finding it hard to cross over to the “mainstream” sci fi market. There are many great speculative fiction books with queer characters, but all the authors I talk to say the same thing. It’s hard to get them represented in the mainstream spec fic market.

If you could introduce one of your characters to any character from another book, who would it be and why?

Oooh, interesting. I think it would be Ana, the scientist most responsible for the creation of Forever, the generation ship that’s central to The Stark Divide. I would introduce her to Quince, another lesbian character who lives on Oberon, which *may* be the final destination for Forever, the gen ship. (spoiler alert). I think they’d have a lot to talk about. And Ana would totally be into Quince’s wings. 🙂

If you could, what book or movie or TV series would you like to experience for the first time all over again and why?

Oooh. I think it would probably be the first Star Wars film. I was maybe nine when it came out, and those were the days when the theaters had 1 or 2 or 3 screens. The line was around the outside of the building and down the block. I saw it and it changed my life. I’ll try to dig up a picture from back then. 🙂

I begged and pleaded with everyone I knew to take me to see it again. It worked – I saw it seven times in theaters that summer. *grin* But I would love to see it again with the same sense of wonder as that first time.

What future invention would you like to see not only created during your life time, but readily available to the public?

Instantaneous travel. I can’t count the number of times I’ve gotten to the end of a trip and been soooo ready to be home, but I still have a daunting journey ahead of me. Not to mention what it could do for commerce and just-in-time inventory.

Although there would be that pesky ninja-assassin-popping-into-your-living-room issue… and zombie apocalypses would spread a lot faster. :/

In this age of publishing, self-promotion is really necessary for the author. What do you enjoy most about advertising yourself and your works? What do you find most challenging?

I love going to cons and meeting readers. it’s only happened a couple times so far, but having someone fanboy or fangirl over you is amazing. 🙂 We all sit in our writer cave for what seems like months at a time, all alone putting together our masterpieces, and then we have a few moments in the sunshine to enjoy the fruits of our labor.

And the most challenging? Blog tours, hands down. When you are getting the word out about your new book on ten or twenty or thirty or forty blogs, it gets harder and harder to be unique and interesting. LOL… Fortunately you are one of my first for The Stark Divide, and the great questions really help.

You are stuck in space in dire straights. Which science fiction authors would you want with you?

Depends. Am I being attacked by robots? Get me Asimov and his three laws. Is it an alien spaceship about to swing around the sun and out into the void? I need me some Clarke. And if I gotta figure out how to fly the damned thing, get me some Niven and a little Pohl…

If you could sit down and have dinner with 5 dead authors, who would you invite to the table? What would they order?

Anne McCaffrey
Sheri Tepper
Robert Jordan
Madeleine L’Engle
Elizabeth Coatsworth (she was a distant relative)

Cover art can be so important for a book, making or breaking sales. What cover art has caught your eye, that you found stood above other books?

Hmmm… in general, I like complex covers that look simple – covers that have layers and density and interest, but that read cleanly, if that makes sense. I’m not a big fan of simple flat covers in primary colors. It’s also important, these days, to make a cover that reads well small, since many people will see it on Amazon and other sales channels in a thumbnail size.

What is a recurring or the most memorable geeky argument or debate you have taken part in?

For my book Skythane, I had to deal with weather on a half world – that is, a sphere cut in half. I found a guy who knew some stuff and gave me his best thoughts. Then one day we were at a friend’s house and I had to explain it to two people who knew nothing about physics or advanced weather dynamics or sci fi.

I managed it, and it was one of the most fun teaching exercises I have ever done.

There may have been cereal bowls involved.

What is the first book you remember reading on your own?

I’ll have to default to the first fantasy/sci fi book. It was The Lord of the Rings, and I was in second or third grade. I remember sobbing uncontrollably when Boromir died, and I was inconsolable for days. That same year, I finished the trilogy for the first time, and it’s still one of my favorites.

Thanks so much for having me on your blog!

About Author J. Scott Coatsworth:

Scott spends his time between the here and now and the what could be. Enticed into fantasy and sci fi by his mom at the tender age of nine, he devoured her Science Fiction Book Club library. But as he grew up, he wondered where all the people like him were in the books he was reading.

He decided that it was time to create the kinds of stories he couldn’t find at his local bookstore. If there weren’t gay characters in his favorite genres, he would remake them to his own ends.

His friends say Scott’s mind works a little differently – he sees relationships between things that others miss, and gets more done in a day than most folks manage in a week. He loves to transform traditional sci fi, fantasy, and contemporary worlds into something unexpected.

He runs both Queer Sci Fi and QueeRomance Ink with his husband Mark, sites that bring queer people together to promote and celebrate fiction that reflects their own lives.

Website ~ Facebook ~ GoodReads ~ Twitter

Synopsis of The Stark Divide:

Some stories are epic.

The Earth is in a state of collapse, with wars breaking out over resources and an environment pushed to the edge by human greed.

Three living generation ships have been built with a combination of genetic mastery, artificial intelligence, technology, and raw materials harvested from the asteroid belt. This is the story of one of them—43 Ariadne, or Forever, as her inhabitants call her—a living world that carries the remaining hopes of humanity, and the three generations of scientists, engineers, and explorers working to colonize her.

From her humble beginnings as a seedling saved from disaster to the start of her journey across the void of space toward a new home for the human race, The Stark Divide tells the tales of the world, the people who made her, and the few who will become something altogether beyond human.

Humankind has just taken its first step toward the stars.

Amazon ~ Dreamspinner Press ~ QueeRomance Ink ~ Barnes & Noble ~ kobo~ iBooks

Synopsis of Skythane:

Jameson Havercamp, a psych from a conservative religious colony, has come to Oberon—unique among the Common Worlds—in search of a rare substance called pith. He’s guided through the wilds on his quest by Xander Kinnson, a handsome, cocky skythane with a troubled past.

Neither knows that Oberon is facing imminent destruction. Even as the world starts to fall apart around them, they have no idea what’s coming—or the bond that will develop between them as they race to avert a cataclysm.

Together, they will journey to uncover the secrets of this strange and singular world, even as it takes them beyond the bounds of reality itself to discover what truly binds them together.

Amazon ~ Dreamspinner Press ~ QueeRomance Ink

GIVEAWAY!!!

J. Scott Coatsworth is offering up 1 ebook copy of Skythane. Open international. Ends. November 10, 2017, midnight. Do the Rafflecopter thing below or answer these questions in the comments: 1) Who are some of your favorite science fiction authors? What was the first book you recall reading on your own? Leave a way to contact you.

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Bookish Giveaway & Interview: Marc Secchia, Author of the Shapeshifter Dragons Series

Scroll to the bottom for the giveaway!

Folks, please give a warm welcome to historical fiction author Marc Secchia. I recently had the pleasure of listening to his book, Aranya: Shapeshifter Dragons Book 1 which follows the dragonish adventures of Aranya and her friends.

If you could give any literary villain a happy ending who would you chose?

Snape – well, he’s not so much a villain, but he is a beautifully conflicted character who I found myself rooting for almost despite my instincts. Very well-written indeed.

The public library of your dreams has arrived! What special collections does it hold?

African fiction. I believe this is one of the most underrepresented fields of literary endeavour and I’d love to see powerful African voices taking their place on the world stage.

If you had to choose someone to rescue you from the jaws of certain death would it be a superhero, supernatural creature, or a space alien?

I’d choose a dragon. They are Fantasy’s finest and most magical creatures and they’d undoubtedly possess the skills and magic to pull off a crazy rescue.

If you could, what book or movie or TV series would you like to experience for the first time all over again and why?

Definitely The Lord of the Rings. It’s the classic fantasy tale of the insidious, corrupting power of evil and the courage of those who choose to stand against it. Peter Jackson did an awesome job of bringing the tale to the big screen, but I still love the rhythm, detail and power of the original text. I’d love to dive into that world afresh because it’s just incredibly immersive and every detail is thought out.

What book should be made into a game (card, PC, board, etc.) and why? Is there a specific character who you would want to play in this game?

There are so many terrific books out there that would make amazing movies, it’s hard to choose. Let me throw out a classic author’s name here – Anne McCaffrey. I think it’s a travesty her works have never made it to screen, although some of the mores are a bit dated I think this series would still resonate with so many people, not just Sci-Fi/Fantasy fans. I’d play Robinton, the Master Harper of Pern.

If you could sit down and have tea (or a beer) with 5 fictional characters, who would you invite to the table?

Let’s see … Dumbledore since we’re having a smallish Potteresque vibe here, Aladdin if he doesn’t come in his canned-and-potted Disney guise, since he’d have plenty of fun tales to tell, and it’s weird I know but I think Mulan just kicks it in her world and time. Two more (scratches chin) … Killashandra from one of my favourite books of all time, the Crystal Singer omnibus by Anne McCaffrey, and Aragorn from LOTR. Maybe I’d throw in a dragon just to liven things up. Toothless is awesome but not much of a conversationalist. He’d just have to make funny faces.

What do you do when you are not writing?

I live and work in Ethiopia so that’s a little different to most. I love to play music – I play a range of woodwinds such as flute, panflute and Irish whistle – and when I’ve a quiet evening I love nothing more than a relax with an epic book.

What is the first book you remember reading on your own?

Ha ha, it’s really boring, but it’s one of those “learn-to-read” books about Kathy and Mark I think. After that must come Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and then I had a Hardy Boys binge before graduating to older books.

Finally, what upcoming events and works would you like to share with the readers?

Well, I’ve a sale coming up on 15th/16th August when I’m going to take a run at getting one of my books into the Top 10 free books on all Amazon. If you’d like to sample my work, Aranya will be free on the 15th and it is a bestseller in Coming of Age fantasy. http://smarturl.it/draconic

Secondly, I’m really excited about the release of Dragonstar on August 16th. It’s the 4th book in my Dragonfriend series and the culmination of the series. http://smarturl.it/dragonstar

I think you’ll love the cover art for this series – do check it out, thanks!

Check out more interviews, spotlights, & reviews on the blog tour.

About Author Marc Secchia:

Marc is a South African-born dragon masquerading as an author, who loves writing about dragons and Africa, preferably both at the same time. He lives and works in Ethiopia with his wife and 4 children, 2 dogs and a variable number of marabou storks that roost on the acacia trees out back. On a good night there are also hyenas patrolling the back fence.

He’s the author of 21 fantasy books in 3 languages (2 more languages coming this year – watch this space!), including 8 rip-roaring dragon fantasy bestsellers. Dragonfriend won a Gold Award for Fantasy in the 2016 IPPY Book Awards. Look out for Whisper Alive, his latest release. The 4th tale in the Dragonfriend series, Dragonstar, is coming soon!

When he’s not writing about Africa or dragons Marc can be found travelling to remote locations. He thinks there’s nothing better than standing on a mountaintop wondering what lies over the next horizon.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Amazon ~ GoodReads

Synopsis of Aranya:

Chained to a rock and tossed off a cliff by her boyfriend, Aranya is executed for high treason against the Sylakian Empire. Falling a league into the deadly Cloudlands is not a fate she ever envisaged. But what if she did not die? What if she could spread her wings and fly?

Long ago Dragons ruled the Island-World above the Cloudlands. But their Human slaves cast off the chains of Dragonish tyranny. Humans spread across the Islands in their flying Dragonships, colonizing, building, and warring. Now the all-conquering Sylakians have defeated the last bastion of freedom – the Island-Kingdom of Immadia.

Evil has a new enemy. Aranya, Princess of Immadia. Dragon Shapeshifter.

Series Note

There is a companion series to Aranya, set in the same unique Island-World above the Cloudlands. Aranya is the last of the Dragons – or is she? Find out why the Dragons disappeared in The Pygmy Dragon, now available on Kindle.

Audible ~ Amazon ~ iTunes ~ Audio Excerpt

About Narrator Shiromi Arserio:

A native of London, England, Shiromi Arserio is a stage actor, voice talent and audiobook narrator. She holds a B.A. in Theatre from Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance. In addition to narrating dozens of audiobooks, her voice can be heard in documentaries, e-learning projects and video games such as Nancy Drew: The Shattered Medallion. Shiromi currently resides in the Seattle area with her husband and her two furbabies.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ SoundCloud ~ IMDB

GIVEAWAY!!!

The giveaway is for a $50 Amazon gift Card. Open internationally! Ends August 16th, 2017.

Aranya Giveaway: $50 Amazon Gift Card

There and Back Again: An Actor’s Tale by Sean Astin & Joe Layden

Narrator: Sean Astin

Publisher: Macmillan Audio (2004)

Length: 4 hours 33 minutes

Astin’s Page ~ Layden’s Page

Here we have Sean Astin’s adventures as Samwise Gamgee during filming of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He recounts how he first heard about the audition, how he prepped for the role, the delights and difficulties of doing such a long shoot in New Zealand, and how the role changed his life going forward. Told with candor, humor, and sometimes gentle criticism, I found this book quite engaging.

This was an educational delight all around. First, I love that Sean Astin was unfamiliar with Tolkien’s work prior to scheduling an audition for the role of Samwise. I found it amusing and endearing that Astin showed us his initial ignorance of The Lord of the Rings. I hope Tolkien’s works opened a door to other great fantasy and science fiction works.

Prior to listening to this book, I was unaware of Astin’s parentage and it’s a rather convoluted one that involves his birth father’s true identity, step dads, and DNA tests. Even though I have been an Astin fan since seeing Goonies when I was 12, I had not delved into Astin’s personal life. This book lifts that curtain a bit and we get to know this actor for more than just his famous movies.

There’s plenty of behind-the-scenes bits about filming in New Zealand, Astin’s fellow actors, Peter Jackson and his wife Fran Walsh, and his own doubts and personal victories. I was pleasantly surprised at how Astin chatted about the peculiarities and ticks of his fellow actors. Any criticism he offered was done in a gentle fashion and yet still had that center of truth to it.

I first read The Lord of the Rings when I was 13 or 14. So long before the movies came about, I knew just how important Samwise was to story. Therefore, I was a bit surprised at how Samwise, and Astin, were not considered that important to the storyline of the filming until the last movie. Logistically, it makes sense but I could sympathize with Astin’s periodic frustrations with this aspect of filming.

This book also covers the lengthy daily makeup sessions, accidents and near accidents that happened on set, the vagaries of weather, and the toll such a lengthy filming can take on not just the actors, but also their families. All around, this was an eye opener. Quite an enjoyable read!

The Narration: Sean Astin did a great job with narrating his own book. I loved how he would slip into Samwise’s voice at the appropriate moments. He also does a great job expressing his emotions without going over the top.

What I Liked: Behind the scenes look by a favorite author of a favorite movie trilogy; the humor; honesty about Astin’s unfamiliarity with Tolkien’s work; candor about other actors and the filming conditions; great narration.

What I Disliked: Nothing – a great little read!

What Others Think:

Stainless Steel Droppings

Pop Matters

The Singing in the Wood

Ebook Giveaway & Interview: Colin Falconer, Author of Opium

Everyone, please give a warm welcome to Colin Falconer. He’s the author of the Opium, along with his newly released Sleeping with the Enemy, and my personal favorite, Colossus. Scroll to the bottom for the ebook GIVEAWAY of 3 copies of Opium.

If you could be an extra on a TV show or movie, what would it be and what would you be doing?

Starwars, Susan. I’d be a Stormtrooper: only I’d bring my own gun and be the first Stormtrooper to ever actually hit someone. (Probably Luke Skywalker, he annoys me.)

Or I’d be Blofeld’s cat. All that screen time but I wouldn’t have to remember any lines.

If you could give any literary villain a happy ending who would you chose?

Moby Dick. I’d like to see him swim off to a marine park reserve safe from idiots like Ahab. Maybe have some little humpbacks with a Mrs Di-, well with a wife. And while we’re on the subject, I think it’s long overdue that the guy who killed Bambi’s mother be brought to justice. I hate that guy, have done ever since I was 3.

The public library of your dreams has arrived! What special collections does it hold?

This is weird but – the entire collection of Classics Illustrated Comics. You can read the entire canon of great Western literature in a single wet afternoon. It is the cheat notes of all cheat notes, a condensation of every great classic story ever written; Jules Verne’s Michael Strogoff, Dumas’s Black Tulip, Wilkie’s Moonstone.

Unusual choice, I know. But it would also bring back memories of my Aunty Ivy, who used to buy them for me at Chingford markets, so I had something to do on wet Saturday in London. At eight years old, I fell in love with Story.

What has been your worst or most difficult job? How does it compare to writing?

The most difficult job was my thirteen years as a volunteer in the country ambulance service. It was also the best and most rewarding, outside of writing.

I worked with a fantastic team of people and the challenges were exacting, auto accidents and beach rescues being among the most arduous but also the most rewarding. One moment I’d be tapping away on the laptop, the next I’d be crawling into a car wreck.

There is absolutely no comparison to the writing life but I loved it just the same.

Which ancient or historical works have you not read and periodically kick yourself for not having made time for them yet?

The Lord of the Rings. Call of the Wild. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. The Seven Pillars of Wisdom.

If you could own a famous or historical art work, what would it be? Would you put it on public display or keep it privately?

Michelangelo’s David. I’d put it in my front garden. Only I’d put shorts on him so people would stop laughing. I’ve always felt sorry for the guy.

Side characters can make or break a story. What side characters have you enjoyed in other works? What side characters in your own work have caught more attention than you expected?

I’m intrigued by Queen Gertrude in Hamlet. We never really learn what was going on in her head, or how culpable she was in the death of Hamlet’s father. For me, she’s almost as interesting as Hamlet.

Orr, in Catch-22. He drives Yossarian crazy, and everyone thinks he’s a moron, and Yossarian won’t fly with him because Orr crashes his plane every time he flies. But he turns out to be the smartest guy in the whole squadron and the key to Yossarian’s final triumph.

Then there’s Judas in the Bible. Why does he hang himself at the end? More going on there than we’re told, and perhaps the traditional answers about him don’t ring true. Definitely a case of an Unreliable Narrator.

But the quintessential secondary character for me is Tybalt. He’s not in the original poem that Shakespeare took his play from, but ‘Romeo and Juliet’ wouldn’t work without him. Tybalt makes Romeo likeable and gives the play its impetus at the midpoint. That’s why Willy invented him.

For my own characters – well my favourite minor character is Ruby Wen. She was supposed to be the villain’s love interest but just took over CHASING THE DRAGON. The girl couldn’t lie straight in a torpedo tube, but she’s sexy and spirited and funny as all get out.

Pity what happened to her in the end, but it was inevitable, I suppose.

You have to run an obstacle course. Who do you invite along (living or dead, real or fictional)?

Clearly, Superman if I wanted to win it.

But if I wanted to just trail along behind, drinking and smoking cigars, like I did in the school cross country races, then Charles Bukowski.

Places to Find Colin Falconer

Book Blurb for Opium:

Vientiane, 1960. Laos is a sleepy post-colonial backwater, run by generals and at war with the communist Pathet Lao in the north. Corsican gangsters, left behind after the French departure five years before, run the opium trade, flying raw opium out of the mountains to Bangkok and Saigon. The most celebrated of the milieu is Rocco Bonaventure, cursed with a daughter who turns heads everywhere she goes. Baptiste Croce is kind of man her father has always warned her about – a handsome and womanising pilot with his eye on the main chance. But Noelle is a woman to be reckoned with, as both Rocco and Baptiste discover for themselves. Their affair, conducted against the looming mountains of Indochina and its blazing poppy fields, change all their lives forever. Baptiste risks his life for her again and again in the air; or is it for control of his father’s opium business? Meanwhile in the teeming slums of Hong Kong’s Walled City, a Chinese refugee uses his cunning and his fists to rise to become Red Pole of the Fei Leung triad. He sees beyond the filthy opium dens to a day when the drug will help him rule the world. From the jungles of the Golden Triangle to the tenements of sixties Hong Kong, from colonial Saigon to the skies of northern Laos, romance and horror collide in a stunning novel of passion and greed and breath-taking action. The Opium series charts the story of the drug trade in Indochina, from sacks thrown in the back of tiny planes in the nineteen sixties to the multimillion dollar international industry that soon became the plague of the western world.

Amazon

Author Bio:

Colin Falconer is an internationally best-selling author. Born in London, he was a freelance journalist and advertising copywriter for many years. But writing novels was his passion and led him to write his first book, Venom, based on his own experiences in South East Asia.

He has now published over 50 books that have been translated into 23 languages.

His next novel with Lake Union THE UNKILLABLE KITTY O’KANE is out in November, and the first novel in a new crime series will be published by Little Brown in London in April 2018. His latest novel SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY is available with Amazon here: http://amzn.to/2ohHfdg

GIVEAWAY!!!

Colin is graciously offering up 3 copies of her ebook Opium. Giveaway is open internationally! Do the Rafflecopter thing below or answer these questions in the comments: What country do you live in? What has been your most difficult job? Optional: Follow Colin Falconer anyway you like and tell me in the comments where you follow him and under what name. Giveaway ends June 21st, 2017, midnight.

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Ebook Giveaway & Interview: Alex Avrio, Author of The Alchemist’s Box

Everyone, please give a warm welcome to Alex Avrio. She’s the author of the Merchant Blades series, of which The Alchemist’s Box is Book 1. Scroll to the bottom for the ebook GIVEAWAY of 5 copies of The Alchemist’s Box.

If you could, what book or movie or TV series would you like to experience for the first time all over again and why?

I think it would be The Matrix (the first one). I remember when it came out the concept blew my mind. The other one would be The Lord of The Rings. I remember I was eagerly anticipating the movie. I have always been a Tolkien fan, and the only movie available was a 1978 animated movie directed by Ralph Bakshi. I knew that a LOTR movie would either be really good or really bad. When I was in the cinema and saw the first scene I knew it was going to be awesome.

What has been your worst or most difficult job? How does it compare to writing?

This would be my first job, which was in a financial company. I had to be there at 9 am and there was no fixed time I’d leave. I was supposed to leave around 5 but around 4 everybody would come and demand things be done, all of which were urgent, and so I could easily end up having to do several unpaid hours of overtime every night. I was so happy to leave.

However, the most difficult thing I have done was my PhD. Doing the research and writing a document of many thousand words was much tougher than writing a novel. I guess with a novel, I feel I am totally in control and have a good instinctive feel for how it needs to progress, whereas with a PhD thesis, I found the writing process much less natural – probably because it all had to be the truth!

Where is the farthest from home that you have traveled? Would you like to live there?

I’m guessing you mean outside a book? In that case, it would be Peru. The farthest we’ve went was to Cusco and Machu Picchu. The highest was Colca Canyon, watching the condors fly. Peru is a beautiful country with amazing people and I’d love to live there if I had the chance.

Care to share an awkward fangirl/fanboy moment, either one where someone was gushing over your work…..or one where you were gushing over another author’s work?

I guess it’s driving long distances to attend my favourite authors’ book signings and talks. The most memorable is dragging my significant other to see Neil Gaiman. We drove for about five hours to get there and queued for another three to get good seats at the venue. This was despite my having a very bad back at the time. (Enough to be in significant pain, not bad enough to be given any special treatment). Still, I regret nothing.

If anyone is a fan and wants to gush over my work feel free to contact me! I love hearing from readers.

What do you do when you are not writing?

I can be usually found drinking coffee, eating cake and reading a book.

What is a recurring or the most memorable geeky argument or debate you have taken part in?

The most recurring geeky argument I have is about what constitutes a strong female character. My view is that there are many things that make a woman strong, physical strength being only one of them. I try to write strong women characters into my books in different ways, each one being strong in her own way. Read ‘The Alchemist’s Box’ and ‘Lose a Princess, Lose Your Head’ and see if you agree with me.

Also: Han Solo fired First.

Finally, what upcoming events and works would you like to share with the readers?

I’d love to share with the readers the first two books of the Merchant Blades series, The Alchemist’s Box and Lose a Princess, Lose Your Head. They take place in a world with similar culture and technology of the Napoleonic/Regency period in Europe. The main characters joined the Merchant Blades mercenary guild after the end of the war between the two major powers of the time. and they become mercenaries. Regina Fitzwaters is a former Captain of the Merrovigian army and is forced to work together with a former enemy, Kapitan Maximillian Jaeger of the Eressian army to repay a debt to the shady underworld bosses in the sewer of Border Town. They must go to the city of Pella and retrieve a box the Bosses bought from the Alchemist there. What could possibly go wrong? They must confront bandits, werewolves, a curse reawakened, and magical creatures while trying not to kill each other.

Places to Find Alex Avrio

Book Blurb for The Alchemist’s Box:

When Captain Regina Fitzwaters’ misguided scheme to leave the tough life of a mercenary behind her backfires, the underworld bosses of Border Town offer her a way out: Bring them the mysterious Alchemist’s box from the neighboring Duchy of Pella. The catch? She must work with Maximillian Jaeger, a former enemy in the recent bitter war. Now she must overcome her prejudices and trust him with her life. In Pella, nothing is as it seems. Why have the niece and nephew of the Duke developed such an interest in the team? Where are all the court dignitaries? What does the Alchemist’s box contain that is worth killing, or dying, for? Can Regina and Jaeger put the war behind them and work together to save everyone in the Duchy before it’s too late?

Amazon

Author Bio:

Alex Avrio is an author of fantasy adventure short stories, novellas, and novels. The first two novels in the swashbuckling Merchant Blades mercenary fantasy adventure series are now available to buy. Her previous dark fantasy novella, the Dreaming Demon, is also for sale on Amazon.

The third novel in the Merchant Blades series, The Hidden Dragon, is due for release in late 2017.

Alex was born in Nottingham, UK, to Greek parents. She has lived both in Greece and England where she returned to study for an MBA in the University of Kent. She has also a PhD in E-business Strategy Management from the University of Kent. She has been writing stories from an early age, and after concluding the PhD she decided that it was the time to try in all earnest to become a professional writer. Alexandra currently lives with her husband and their two cats in Newcastle upon Tyne, a place so far up north that if you go any further you’re south again. She would love to share with you her love of fantasy and adventures. She also has a book, bingo and dessert habit to fuel, so please help by buying the books.

To find out more about Alex Avrio, and to keep up to date on her latest work please visit www.alexavrio.com. She would love to hear from you, and can be reached by E-mail: contact@alexavrio.com Facebook: facebook.com/alexavrio Twitter: @alexavrio

GIVEAWAY!!!

Alex is graciously offering up 5 copies of her ebook The Alchemists’s Box. Giveaway is open internationally! Do the Rafflecopter thing below or answer these questions in the comments: What country do you live in? What do you do when you’re not reading? Optional: Follow Alex Avrio anyway you like and tell me in the comments where you follow her and under what name. Giveaway ends June 17th, 2017, midnight.

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Audiobook Giveaway & Interview: JB Rockwell, Science Fiction Author

Folks, please give a warm welcome to J B Rockwell to the blog today. Learn about Jennifer’s dream library, just who the Swiss Army knives of spec fic are, and how she ended up in a duel of toothpicks at dawn! Interested in winning a CD copy of her latest SF book Dark & Stars? Then scroll to the bottom for the giveaway!

If you could be an extra on a TV show or movie, what would it be and what would you be doing?

Well, if you could resurrect Firefly, I’d be all over that. Me and Kaylee hanging out, slinging wrenches in the engine room, lobbing one-liners at the rest of the crew. 🙂 If we’re sticking with something current, I’d love to be on Fargo—that is the darkest, funniest, most oddball show out there and I love it. I’d want to play a Deputy or something so I can PACK HEAT AND EAT DONUTS ROWR!!!!

If you could give any literary villain a happy ending who would you chose?

Smaug. I mean, that poor little guy was the only dragon left in Middle Earth and, yeah, he was squatting in the dwarves’ house, but c’mon! Dude was cold! And gold hungry! Can’t blame him for wanting to move in! And what do they do? Run away. Abandon him. Leave him all alone sleeping on a cold, hard bed of coins. Sheesh. No wonder he had anger issues. They could have at least given him a kitten. I’d love to see a rewrite where Bilbo lures Smaug out with a pretty, little lady dragon and they fly away to live happily ever after on some nice, warm tropical island where there are no dwarves at all. THE END.

Is there a genre or literary niche that you feel hasn’t gotten it’s deserved amount of attention?

I don’t even know what to call it, but there’s this grey area between horror and mystery that needs more love. I love a creepy, mysterious story that’s a little scary, but I don’t necessarily need the graphic gore. So light horror/creepy—more of that, please! Oh, and give it a name, too, so I know how to google it.

The public library of your dreams has arrived! What special collections does it hold?

UGH! THIS QUESTION IS TOO HARD!!!! Soooo many books.

Okay. If I have choose something, let me highlight a few sections I think are mandatory:

1. Every edition and every cover of Lord of the Rings ever printed—some of those were GORGEOUS. Also include any of the companion books, map books, art books, etc. I want all the Lord of the Rings book things!
2. An entire section devoted to folklore. And make it BIG because I want Celtic and Norse, Russian and Bulgarian, Korean and Japanese and African and everything else. GIMME ALL THE FOLKLORE FROM ALL THE CULTURES!!!
3. An entire section dedicated to books on dragons. And not just fiction books (stop laughing, dragons are real). Science books, picture books, biology texts, I want it all.
4. An entire section devoted to female spec fic authors. Another section for spec fic POC authors. A third for spec-fic LGBTQ. I want to highlight their awesomeness—they deserve more space!!
5. A Dr. Seuss area with all his books, a load of bean bags, and some big, comfy chairs. And puppies. And a few kittens.

If you had to choose someone to rescue you from the jaws of certain death would it be a superhero, supernatural creature, or a space alien?

Supernatural creature hands down. I can even see how this scenario would play out: Nessie saves me and takes me to her secret and awesome lair beneath the loch (this is also where all the world’s unicorns hide out, too, by the way). Over tea and cake we become fast friends, spending our days playing bagpipes and eating shortbreads, and our nights drinking beer and tossing haggis at the tourists.

Myths and beliefs that we would consider fiction or fantasy in modern literature once upon a time shaped history (think of all the hunts for unicorns & dragons). Do you see modern fantasy fiction affecting human cultures today and how?

Modern fantasy is a lot more all-encompassing, so definitely, yes. Early fantasy was very western culture and myth centric (still is), but we’re gradually seeing more books based on African, and Asian, and other world cultures, which is FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC. The global economy is exposing people to other foods, and beliefs, and ways of thinking, and fantasy is giving us amazing new backdrops, and creatures, and characters that influence art, and culture, and fashion, and so many other aspects of our lives. We just need more—MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE!!

What future invention would you like to see not only created during your life time, but readily available to the public?

TRANSPORTER PLEASE??!! Raise your hand if you’re sick of sitting in traffic? Or driving hours to the airport to sit for hours in the airport and then spend hours on a plane. Granted, there’s the whole ‘catastrophic failure ending in subatomic deconstruction’ thing, but c’mon! Hawaii in 2 minutes! GIMME THAT!

You are stuck in space in dire straights. Which science fiction authors would you want with you?

I love that first line, by the way. It simultaneously reads like poetry, and like I got dropped into a choose your own adventure story. 😀

And now, my answer! I am TOTALLY bringing Elizabeth Bear because she would either fight her way through any and all adversities, or lie, cheat, steal and swindle to pull us through. I’d also want N.K. Jemisin because she seems to think quickly on her feet and would come up with some wonky and entirely unexpected solution to save our bacon. Bear and Jemisin: the Swiss Army knives of speculative fiction.

Often various historical aspects (people, locations, events) are used in fantasy and sometimes rehashed in a far-flung future. In your opinion, what are some examples of such historical aspects being used well in the SF/F genre?

So, I’m a huge fan of Stephen King’s Gunslinger series. One of the things I loved most about these books (beyond the movement between time periods) were the references to various cultures, and myths, and stories that are sprinkled throughout. ‘See the Turtle of enormous girth’ is an obvious reference to a classic creation myth. The character of Roland: a reference to Child Roland to the Dark Tower Came. The six beams and their guardians—all references to Native American totems and myths. That’s just a sampling of the rich tapestry of this multi-part story, a series that mixes sci-fi, fantasy and western elements and pulls it off in style.

What is a recurring or the most memorable geeky argument or debate you have taken part in?

Oh man. I was lucky enough to get invited onto the Super Awesome Geek Show (twice!) and we geeked out so hard on Star Wars. I’m a huge fan but not a super fan so I love talking Star Wars, but I admit I also enjoy mercilessly teasing the ‘cannon’ quoters. 🙂 I honestly can’t remember what specific part of Star Wars we were discussing—this was in the run-up to The Force Awakens this first time, and Rogue One the second time—but it ended with a challenge involving toothpicks at dawn…?

May 2016 Episode of Super Awesome Geek Show with J B Rockwell

December 2016 Episode of Super Awesome Geek Show with J B Rockwell

About Jennifer Rockwell:

J.B. Rockwell is a New Englander, which is important to note because it means she’s (a) hard headed, (b) frequently stubborn, and (c) prone to fits of snarky sarcasticness. As a kid she subsisted on a steady diet of fairy tales, folklore, mythology augmented by generous helpings of science fiction and fantasy. As a quasi-adult she dreamed of being the next Indiana Jones and even pursued (and earned!) a degree in anthropology. Unfortunately, those dreams of being an archaeologist didn’t quite work out. Through a series of twists and turns (involving cats, a marriage, and a SCUBA certification, amongst other things) she ended up working in IT for the U.S. Coast Guard and now writes the types of books she used to read. Not a bad ending for an Indiana Jones wannabe…

Places to Stalk J B Rockwell

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Amazon ~ GoodReads

Book Blurb for Serengeti:

It was supposed to be an easy job: find the Dark Star Revolution Starships, destroy them, and go home. But a booby-trapped vessel decimates the Meridian Alliance fleet, leaving Serengeti – a Valkyrie class warship with a sentient AI brain – on her own, wrecked and abandoned in an empty expanse of space. On the edge of total failure, Serengeti thinks only of her crew. She herds the survivors into a lifeboat, intending to sling them into space. But the escape pod sticks in her belly, locking the cryogenically frozen crew inside. Then a scavenger ship arrives to pick Serengeti‘s bones clean. Her engine’s dead, her guns long silenced; Serengeti and her last two robots must find a way to fight the scavengers off and save the crew trapped inside her.

Amazon ~ Audible

Book Blurb for Dark & Stars:

For 53 years Serengeti drifted, dreaming in the depths of space. Fifty-three years of patient waiting before her Valkyrie Sisters arrive to retrieve her from the dark. A bittersweet homecoming follows, the Fleet Serengeti once knew now in shambles, its admiral, Cerberus, gone missing, leaving Brutus in charge. Brutus who’s subsumed the Fleet, ignoring his duty to the Meridian Alliance to pursue a vendetta against the Dark Star Revolution.

The Valkyries have a plan to stop him – depose Brutus and restore the Fleet’s purpose – and that plan involves Serengeti. Depends on Serengeti turning her guns against her own.

Because the Fleet can no longer be trusted. With Brutus in charge, it’s just Serengeti and her Sisters, and whatever reinforcements they can find.

A top-to-bottom refit restores Serengeti to service, and after a rushed reunion with Henricksen and her surviving crew, she takes off for the stars. For Faraday – a prison station – to stage a jailbreak, and free the hundreds of Meridian Alliance AIs wrongfully imprisoned in its Vault. From there to the Pandoran Cloud and a rendezvous with her Valkyrie Sisters. To retrieve a fleet of rebel ships stashed away inside.

Amazon ~ Audible

GIVEAWAY!!!

J B Rockwell is offering up 1 audiobook (CD) copy of Dark & Stars (US Only due to shipping). Do the Rafflecopter thing below or answer these questions in the comments. 1) What state do you live in? 2) What future invention would you like to see during your lifetime? Giveaway ends May 27th, 2017 midnight.

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Interview: Jake Urry, Narrator of Shadows of Tomorrow

Everyone, please welcome Jake Urry to the blog today. I really enjoyed his narration of The Cryptic Lines by Richard Storry. Today, we’re here to promote his latest narration, Shadows of Tomorrow by Jessica Meats. A big thank you to Jess at The Audio Book Worm for setting up this book tour. Swing by the tour page to catch more interviews, spotlights, and audio excerpts. On to the interview!

Is there a genre or literary niche that you feel hasn’t gotten it’s deserved amount of attention?

I think that although the genre is very popular with a lot of people, Sci-Fi and Fantasy novels can often be disregarded as ‘all being the same’ by many readers who haven’t tried them, and won’t because they think they’ll be reading about wizards and aliens that they can’t relate to. I think if more people tried an occasional new Sci-Fi or Fantasy novel they’d be surprised at the diversity of the stories and the legions of complex and relatable characters!

What has been your worst or most difficult job? How does it compare to voice acting?

I spent a short time (that felt like a lifetime) in a factory assembling cosmetic displays, which involved the same mindless repetitive tasks day in and day out. One of my final jobs there was gluing tiny rubber feet on to thousands of Hello Kitty nail varnish holders. I was very happy to say ‘Bye Bye Kitty’ when the time came. Voice acting in complete contrast is different every day, challenging, more fun and most importantly lets me use my imagination!

What reboots (or retellings) of classics have you enjoyed? Are there ones that haven’t worked for you?

The 1975 animation of Jules Verne’s The Mysterious Island is something that terrified and enthralled me as a child and has stayed with me ever since. There have been a lot of live action versions but I think the animation is the best. I’m also partial to Nick Park’s claymation classic Chicken Run, as a re-imagining of The Great Escape. I don’t mind admitting I think it’s a glorious piece of cinema.

If everyone came with warning labels, what would yours say?

‘If sleeping, wake me up at your own peril’

If you could sit down and have tea (or a beer) with 5 fictional characters, who would you invite to the table?

Miss Mowcher from David Copperfield
Gandalf from LotR
Dumbledore from Harry Potter
Winston Smith from 1984
Captain Ahab from Moby Dick

What is the first book you remember reading on your own?

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. (I tend to do things in the wrong order).

Finally, what upcoming events and works would you like to share with the readers?

I’ll be taking part in Mystery and Thriller Week in February (12th-22nd), it’s shaping up to be awesome with a lot of authors and contributors involved! Check it out here – https://mysterythrillerweek.com

Thank you for having me over on your lovely blog!

About Jake Urry:

Jake Urry is a British actor and audiobook narrator, and also co-founder of Just Some Theatre. Since graduating from an Acting degree course in 2012 he’s toured with Just Some Theatre as an actor and producer, worked on a number of commercial voice over projects and most recently started producing Audiobooks. Jake has produced over 10 titles since March 2016 and has rapidly found himself at home narrating Thriller, Horror, Mystery and Suspense titles. His audiobook work includes dark psychological thrillers White is the Coldest Colour and Portraits of the Dead by John Nicholl, occult mystery series The Ulrich Files by Ambrose Ibsen, and gritty Sci-Fi novel Shadows of Tomorrow by Jessica Meats.

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Synopsis of Shadows of Tomorrow:

Earth is at war. Portals are opening across the planet and bringing creatures known as Outsiders. Their only desire is to eat, leaving a trail of destruction in their path. The only people who can stop them are the Defenders – led by Gareth Walker – who can open portals of their own to target the Outsiders in minutes. Gareth’s only advantage is an ability to see glimpses of his future.

For the past decade the Defenders have held back the incursion, but now a new portal opens, bringing something that Gareth did not see coming. As he must find a way to stop this new threat, he starts a quest for answers. He must learn how the war began and find a way to stop them once and for all.

All the while, he is aware of a shadow in his future; a moment he can’t see past. Will stopping the Outsiders cost him everything?

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About the Author Jessica Meats:

Jessica Meats is a graduate of the University of York and works in the IT industry. She draws on her experiences as a technology specialist and martial arts student to create a unique and interesting fictional community of combat experts and computer geeks.

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