Friday 31 March 2017

Joshua Robertson: ArtistFirst Radio Network Interview | Joshua Robertson

Originally posted by Joshua Robertson:


If you missed my radio interview on ArtistFirst Radio Network on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, you can now listen to it here.

LISTEN NOW

You can check out all previous press appearances and future events on my website.
You can purchase any of my books on AMAZON or get signed copies at my STORE.
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Thursday 30 March 2017

Death’s Queen (Book 4) – Lisa Blackwood

Death wants his queen back.

After her two sisters are caught up by destiny’s call, Lamarra Stonemantle is the only one left to play the role of dutiful noble daughter. A task she embraces in an effort to hide the dark magic living inside her own soul. Now that power is whispering its seductive promises again, telling her only a long dead king can complete her soul.

That unknown being terrifies her, but when Lord Master Trensler orders his acolytes to capture Lamarra, she must flee her home. To her dismay, she is rescued by tomb guards sent by her dead king.

Lamarra soon learns her fate is just as terrible as she thought, but Dead King Soryn isn’t anything like she feared. He’s worse. Yet he’s also gentle and kind and he knows a way to track and destroy the acolytes’ evil god.

But Lord Master Trensler has his own plans. If he cannot match power with the Dead King, then he will go back in time and eradicate Soryn before he ever has the chance to become the Dead King.

There is one thing Trensler did not factor into his plan—Queen Lamarra and the protective instincts she feels towards her new king.

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Fantasy Art Wednesday | Allison D. Reid

Originally posted by Allison D. Reid:


Get inspired with this week’s Fantasy Art Wednesday, where fun fantasy artwork is combined with a writing prompt to get your creative juices flowing.

This curious image caught my attention for today’s post. I sense no danger in the peaceful, sun drenched glade. It seems to be a place of seclusion, of meditation. I can imagine that some wise sage lives in that shabby little house built up in the tree. It has obviously been there for many years, perhaps even many ages. Is the figure in red the sage himself? Or perhaps a sentry who ensures that he can meditate in peace without being disturbed at inopportune times by those who come to seek out his wisdom.
But this is only my initial impression. Who do you think lives in this moss and vine covered tree? 

Title and Artist Unknown

Wednesday 29 March 2017

Cyberpunk Tales Box Set

Vivian Hsu has only lived in the slums of the lower Sprawl for a year as a mercenary, but ironically, the telepathic powers that forced her to flee her prior privileged life now threaten to drive her insane. Will this proud, self-reliant, and stubborn woman harness her fiery nature and survive the deadliest contract she's ever faced? Will she navigate the tangled web of corporate espionage, kidnapping, murder and come out with her soul? Or will the darkest depths of the Sprawl claim another life?

Amazon




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Tuesday 28 March 2017

Special Feature: Summoned by Rainy Kaye | Renee Scattergood

Originally posted by Renee Scattergood:


englishsummonedTwenty-three year old Dimitri has to do what he is told - literally. Controlled by a paranormal bond, he is forced to use his wits to fulfill unlimited deadly wishes made by multimillionaire Karl Walker. Dimitri has no idea how his family line became trapped in the genie bond. He just knows resisting has never ended well.
When he meets Syd - assertive, sexy, intelligent Syd - he becomes determined to make her his own. Except Karl has ensured Dimitri can't tell anyone about the bond, and Syd isn't the type to tolerate secrets.
Then Karl starts sending him away on back-to-back wishes. Unable to balance love and lies, Dimitri sets out to uncover Karl's ultimate plan and put it to an end. But doing so forces him to confront the one wish he never saw coming - the wish that will destroy him.
A dark twist on genie folklore, SUMMONED follows a reluctant criminal as he unravels the mystery of the paranormal bond controlling him.



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Grigory's Gadget - Book 1 of the Gaslight Frontier Series

Grigory's Gadget - Book 1 of the Gaslight Frontier Series

“Protect it and it will protect you.” Zoya never understood what her grandmother meant, speaking of a strange gadget of compacted wires and gears. When she and her friends are kidnapped by pirates, Zoya learns that there’s more to the gadget than meets the eye…

Currently on sale for $0.99!

Smashwords | Amazon

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Medieval Monday: Inns | Allison D. Reid

Originally posted by Allison D. Reid:



Last week’s post was about medieval taverns, so it seemed natural to make this week’s about medieval inns as their services overlap somewhat. Like commercially run taverns, medieval inns catered more to the wealthy than the average person. They were equipped to accommodate not just lone travelers, but people like merchants with carts full of valuable wares, and nobles with their families and attendants. Whereas taverns offered basic, or even poor quality food, inns were prepared to host elaborate feasts as necessary for guests–including wine and other alcoholic drinks. Inns also provided temporary storage and stables where horses could be cared for.
Inns were actually big business, and they made a considerable profit. Innkeepers were wealthy and played a prominent role in the community—sometimes also serving in the local government, or acting as banking agents. Inns were often centers of trade as well, and investors were eager to back them, expecting a handsome profit in return.
The layout of a typical inn included a main hall, possibly a secondary common space, a kitchen, storage space, quarters for the innkeeper and his family, and of course, sleeping rooms for guests. It is hard for us to imagine today, but not all of the sleeping rooms were private or even lockable. Many were communal, with a number of guests sharing a room together, sometimes even the same beds. Private rooms became more popular as the period progressed.
However, not everyone could afford to stay at an inn, even when they were available and had enough room. Ale houses sometimes provided basic shelter for the night for a very limited number of people. Monasteries might run hostels (hospitals) where travelers could stay free or for a minimal fee, particularly on routes that were heavily traveled by pilgrims. When there was no inn, hostel, or other building for shelter, people might sleep outdoors. If this was necessary, travelers stayed together in groups for safety. Nobles might have the advantage of finding hospitality with a fellow noble living nearby. They would send a harbinger just ahead of them to make all of the arrangements.

Use the Medieval Monday Index to discover more topics relating to daily life in the Middle Ages.

Monday 27 March 2017

It's Time to Say Goodbye

This last year working with Joshua and Allison on this newsletter has been great, but things are picking up in our writing careers, and unfortunately, we no longer have time to keep up with this newsletter.

It doesn't have to be goodbye though...

Allison, Joshua and I have our own newsletters where you can keep tabs on us, and we all love hearing from you.

Joshua and I will be adding you all to our newsletters automatically, and of course if you don't want to remain on those lists you can always unsubscribe. You'll have to subscribe to Allison's newsletter if you'd like to keep following her, however. You can do that here.

I'll also be keeping the Weekly Fantasy Fix blog going, and you can still follow on Twitter

Thank you for all your support over the last year!



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Sunday 26 March 2017

Here is my interview with Joshua Robertson | Fiona McVie

Originally posted by Fiona McVie:


Name  Joshua Robertson
Age 32
Where are you from
I currently live in North Carolina with my better half and my horde of goblins. I am a Licensed Master Social Worker, receiving my degree from Wichita State University. I have worked with children and families for the past fifteen years in a variety of unique venues: a residential behavior school, a psychiatric treatment facility, and the child welfare system. I have functioned as a supervisor, an educator, a behavior specialist, and a therapist during my career. You, however, may recognize me as the dude whose dragons were said to destroy George R.R. Martin’s and Christopher Paolini’s dragons in a very biased Twitter poll. My first novel, Melkorka, was released in 2015, and I have been writing fantasy fiction like clockwork ever since.
Fiona: Tell us your latest news?
This month I completed the third book [Maharia] in my trilogy, The Kaelandur SeriesMaharia is my fifth published, print novel and my fourteenth published work. Yet this is my first whole trilogy.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?
I began writing stories around the age of nine, completing my first short story. I suspect writing was originally an escape. I mean, I was already dreaming of bestsellers at nine-years-old. Over time, writing has become more of an expression of my own exploration of self.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I called myself a writer regularly by the time I was in high school. I had finished my first book by the time I was seventeen. I remember my class voting me the most likely to become a famous writer…but I think they said I would be writing for television.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?
My first published book was inspired by a dream I had in 2013 where a dagger brought demons back to the living world. This book was Melkorka, the first novel in The Kaelandur Series.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?
Maharia is the name of the northern lands in my world, Aenar. The first two books in the series, Melkorka and Dyndaer, are named after a lone castle and an enigmatic forest.

Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
I enjoy blending theology in with my fantasy tales, and I would hope readers will be able to find many gems throughout the series. I have been told by fans that my fantasy novels have many quoteable lines. Overall, I would like readers to have a strong sense of looking at their own lives and their purpose.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
In terms of realism, the books are laden with the realities of war, slavery, government control, religious oversight, etc. No experiences in the book are based from my own experience. If any parallels are found, it would be in the history of our known world.

Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most?
The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli and Liberty by John Stuart Mills.
Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest and who  is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
I have found many new authors whose works I enjoy: John Ryers, Angie Grigaliunas, and Angela B. Chrysler. However, my favorite author is likely J.R.R. Tolkien. I can read his works over and over again. He is not the best author, but his introduction to world building, magic, language, and fantastical races opened the doors for many authors today.

Fiona: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
I have been supported by so many people throughout my writing career in forums, writing groups, or personal relationships. It would be incredibly difficult to name only one.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?
Absolutely. I currently write full time, and I hope to continue to make strides in my writing career.

Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
I always find areas in my books that I would change, even the day after I publish them. A word I would have changed, or description I might have added. I try not to get too caught up on the details, and instead, I incorporate what I learn into my next book.
Fiona: Can you share a little of your current work with us?
Again, the bearded Kadari and Beryl tightened their hold on his arms.
With a flash in her eye, Kveta pulled aside Branimir’s cloak and pulled the dagger from the belt. Kaelandur stayed hanging from its sheathe around his waist. She barely looked at the copper blade, twisting the iron dagger in her hand. The sharpness of the weapon gleamed in the firelight.
Her free hand grabbed his shoulder roughly, balancing her weight to keep pressure off her bandaged leg. “Should I wedge this in your leg, your eye, or your dear, little bits?”
Beryl’s blithe snigger robbed the air from Branimir’s lungs. “Why choose only one?”
Disbelief and horror seized Bran, his timorous lip quaking with realization. He twisted against the Kadari holding him, hardly budging.
He dared to break from Kveta’s ghastly expression to look at Falmagon. The twisted smile under the Patrician’s mustache screamed of gratification. After Harrowhal, he realized how far gone Falmagon truly was. He once thought Falmagon, at least, considered himself decent, but nothing was left of the Highborn Long-Walker.
Nothing could have readied Branimir for the shockwave of pain riddling through his body as Kveta speared him with the dagger. He reacted at instinct, thrashing violently against the two Kadari holding him hostage, his wail causing the very flames of the distant fire to waft. He could not pinpoint where she struck him at first, only knowing the pain surged from beneath his belly. The heat of the immediate wound was only diluted by the warmth of the thick blood flowing down his slender leg.
He moaned. Tears descended from his cheeks with heaved sniffles, snorting his slick snot back into his nose and off his upper lip.
Kveta twisted the blade, grating the sharp edge against his femur, isolating the dagger’s location. Branimir blubbered softly, catching the saliva on the edge of his tongue, hatefully glaring at the Kadari woman.
He gagged in effort to keep his throat from closing, gasping for oxygen. He needed to breathe. He had to shake away the abysmal pain. Inhaling the metallic odor of his own blood, Branimir gazed to Falmagon and exhaled the bitter thoughts flooding his mind. “I will kill you! I swear it! Marheena will leave you broken and deformed!”

Fiona: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Romance. I have found through the course of my novels there is very little, if any, romantical interest or love stories in my books.

Fiona: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
I do not travel much yet, but I am planning to change that this year.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?
My cover designer is primarily Winter Bayne. Though, the artist Shen Fei did complete the cover for Anaerfell.

Fiona: What was the hardest part of writing your book?
The most difficult part of writing is not being finicky over every little word. I have the tendency to edit while I write, which helps me in the longrun, but can be cumbersome if not watched.

Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?
Do not try to write like other authors. You should follow the rules of writing, but you also must find your own voice.

Fiona: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
They hear it from me often enough, but thank you, I could not do what I do without you.
Fiona: What book are you reading now?
I am currently reading The Fantasy Faction Formula by Deborah Chester.
Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?
I do not. But the first book that stuck with me was Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls.
Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?
My children. Sometimes in the same sitting.
Fiona: Is there one person pass or present you would meet and why?
That is a difficult question. If I had to narrow it down, I would want to meet Erzebeth Bathory. She is, hands-down, my favorite historical figure and I would love to learn more about the rumors of her bathing in virgin’s blood. In the modern day, I think I would want to meet with RA Salvatore just to play a good, old-fashioned tabletop game.
Fiona: What do you want written on your head stone and why ?
Nothing. I would prefer that I am sent out to see on a pyre of logs and set afire with a flaming arrow. Though, I think that might be illegal.
Fiona: Other than writing do you have any hobbies ?
I enjoy reading, time with family, tabletop gaming, and the occasional television show.
Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?
I am currently catching up on the acclaimed Breaking Bad. Otherwise, I watch Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead. I particularly enjoy anything that has a touch of fantasy or a dystopian setting.
Fiona: Favorite foods / Colors/ Music
Food – Pad Grapow (Thai-Hot), Color – Green/Black/Grey, Song – Bulgarian Folk Rhodope Mountain by Nadezhda Hvoyneva
Fiona: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?
Considering a spent the first half of my adult life working in social services, I would probably return to that work if needed.
Fiona: Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?
Maharia
Dyndaer
Melkorka
Box Set
Anaerfell