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Author David Wiley

~ Author of science fiction and fantasy stories, choosing to write the stories that he would love to read.

Author David Wiley

Tag Archives: Fantasy

Release Day for Monster Huntress!

21 Saturday Apr 2018

Posted by David Wiley in Books and Reading, Monster Huntress

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Book Release, Fantasy, Monster Huntress, YA, YA Fantasy

Holy smokes, people. Today is release day and what an exciting and eventful day it has already been! We’ve been having a Facebook party going on since last night, and you should definitely hop on over there and take some quizzes, share your Dragon name, talk about your favorite underrated authors, and more.

https://www.facebook.com/events/2052224081714312/

And thanks to you, my readers, I am already creeping up on smashing the real sales goal that my publishers had for release day. But that doesn’t mean we can’t aim higher. Be sure to snag a copy today. It is available in a whole host of places, but here’s the Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords links for your convenience.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/monster-huntress-david-wiley/1128332229?ean=9781946382276

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/810426

 

And if you read the book, be sure to let me know what you thought by either leaving a review or by emailing me!

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What Reviewers are Saying About A Merchant in Oria

21 Sunday May 2017

Posted by David Wiley in A Merchant in Oria, Book Review, Books and Reading, Fantasy, My Writings, OWS Ink, LLC.

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

A Merchant in Oria, Book Review, Fantasy, Novella

My first fantasy novella, A Merchant in Oria, has been out for just over three weeks now, and the reviews are beginning to trickle in. I could tell you all about why you should read this novella, but it sounds like even more fun to let these first reviews deliver some reasons to pick up your copy today:

“From the opening line straight to the end, there is enough adventure and fast paced action to keep the reader enthralled. There is no chance for your mind to escape this story. You’ll find yourself deep in the clutches of Firion, Melody, and the rest of the cast.”

“Wiley runs at a fast pace from good sell to kingdom won, at the perfect speed for an easy read on the beach, during a plane ride, or just a lazy afternoon spent in another world. This is one story I’ll read over and over again.”

“The plot was engaging, following the lines one expects of classic fantasy. If you are looking for fantasy that is light (as opposed to dark) and at times humorous in tone (along the lines of, say, Jeffrey M. Poole’s Lost City), then you’ll probably enjoy this story. The nod to bearded dwarf women made me smile!”

“Initially I felt rather annoyed with the main character (whose naiveté seemed to border on willful self-delusion) only to realize later that his attitude is probably also the primary reason he turns out to be the ideal hero for Oria. “

“Like most of us readers, lowly Firion doubts he has it in him to overcome his fear and be strong enough to save Melody and perhaps the rest of Oria. Is that what a hero does? “No, a true hero steps up and does the right thing because he sees a problem needing to be solved,” his mentor Tyron tells him. We can guess that Firion plays the part of hero, but how he goes about it is worth the read. David Wiley believes in his characters and makes fantastical figures come to life.”

“A Merchant in Oria is a novella set in a fantasy world populated by humans, dwarves, and lizard-men. It has the feel of a familiar, traditional fantasy setting, as found in Tolkien’s work. However, this story is more humorous and light-hearted. “

“I enjoyed reading this book. It is a short read; I read it over lunch. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy stories looking for a quick read. “

“This was a cute little novella. In such a short amount of time, the author manages to convey enough information that the world doesn’t feel flat. To be perfectly honest, the way it was set up made it read like a side quest in Skyrim. That helped with envisioning the setting. There was some interesting character development to be had. Some of it ended up entangled in the romantic subplot, but that honestly made it better.”

“A quick and easy fantasy read. It was cute, funny, and tied things up at the end. Characters and story were both engaging. It was a well-written, fairly original storyline.”

So don’t forget to add it to your Goodreads Bookshelf!

Purchase on Amazon

Purchase on Barnes & Noble

Purchase on Smashwords

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Book Release: A Merchant in Oria by David Wiley

28 Friday Apr 2017

Posted by David Wiley in A Merchant in Oria, Book Release, Books and Reading, My Writings, OWS Ink, LLC.

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

A Merchant in Oria, Book Release, david wiley, Fantasy, Novella, OWS Ink, LLC., Willow Wings Press

Today is the big day. The novella is officially out! You can snag an electronic copy through several venues, which I’ve shared on my Author page and will share again soon.

From 8 am-10 pm (central time) today and tomorrow an event will be running on Facebook where tons of authors are helping to celebrate the release by giving away free books, hosting little games, and sharing a little about themselves.

So hop in as you are able to and maybe you’ll find an author or two that you might enjoy reading. Join in on some games for chances to win prizes.

https://www.facebook.com/events/269239190204356/

 

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If you want to order a copy of A Merchant in Oria, here are some links.

Please note: The paperback version has been delayed a little in order to ensure it is the best quality product. It may be another week before that is able to be purchased. When it does go live, there will be a post on this blog to reshare the links so you can order a paperback version if you prefer to have a copy.

https://www.amazon.com/Merchant-Oria-David-Wi…/…/ref=sr_1_1……
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/720264
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-merchant-in-o…/1126276961…
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-merchant-in-oria

 

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A Merchant in Oria Releases Soon!

25 Tuesday Apr 2017

Posted by David Wiley in A Merchant in Oria, Book Release, Books and Reading, My Writings, OWS Ink, LLC.

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

A Merchant in Oria, Fantasy, Novella, OWS Ink, LLC., Prerelease

I can hardly contain my own excitement because my first novella, A Merchant in Oria, will finally be available this Friday. It was a story that first begun in 2012 and I can’t believe it has finally matured into the work you will be able to purchase.

The team at OWS Ink, LLC. have been fantastic to work with during every step of the process.

Consider helping to spread the word. The more people who know about this release, the better things will (hopefully) go during the first days of this novella’s release. A good release will hopefully lead to their willingness to look at my first full novel, Monster Huntress.

Join us on Facebook this Friday and Saturday for two days full of authors coming together to help celebrate the release of the book.

Link to the Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/269239190204356/

And if you are a reviewer and would like to get a review copy, please reach out to me.

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A Merchant in Oria – Social Campaigns

11 Tuesday Apr 2017

Posted by David Wiley in A Merchant in Oria, Book Release, Books and Reading, Fantasy, My Writings, OWS Ink, LLC.

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

A Merchant in Oria, david wiley, Fantasy, Headtalker, Novella, OWS Ink, LLC., Thunderclap, Willow Wings Press

The cover reveal is still to come, but in the meantime the wonderful people over at Our Write Side have started up a Headtalker and a Thunderclap campaign to help spread the word about this upcoming release.

Don’t know what those are? They are very simple. You sign up to allow Facebook/Twitter/Tumblr/LinkedIn permission to make a one-time post on the day of the book’s release. It will auto-generate a message for you, which you are able to customize as you desire.

It takes minutes to contribute to the campaign and makes it so you don’t have to try and remember to post about it on the actual release date. We need 100 people for the Thunderclap to be a success, so please consider taking a moment to sign up and help spread the word.

Thunderclap: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/55573-a-merchant-in-oria-debut

Headtalker: https://headtalker.com/campaigns/a-merchant-in-oria-release/

And as a bonus treat, here is the blurb for this upcoming release:

 

Firion is a young merchant descended from generations of merchants. His first big break comes along when he sets out to trade with the wealthy dwarven kingdom of Oria. He has always dreamed of visiting this grand kingdom, having heard his father describe it in detail a hundred times when he was younger. But when Firion arrives in Oria, he is jarred by the details present that contradict with the image etched in his mind.

Something dark and sinister seems to be afoot in Oria, but Firion knows he is no hero. He is just a simple merchant, and what can an ordinary person do in the face of danger and deception?

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Book Review: After Avalon

14 Tuesday Feb 2017

Posted by David Wiley in After Avalon, Book Review, Books and Reading, King Arthur, My Writings

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

18th Wall Production, After Avalon, Anthology, Colin Fisher, david wiley, Fantasy, King Arthur, Nicole Petit, Short Stories, The May Hawk's Daughter

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Title: After Avalon

Authors: Various, anthology of short stories curated by Nicole Petit

Published by: 18th Wall Productions (August 12, 2016)

Pages: 248 Pages (Paperback)

Blurb: King Arthur is dead. Camelot has fallen. Britain drowns in Saxons.

These are the stories of what came after.

Merlin’s prophecies begin such, in introduction:

“In the days when Arthur’s dream was dimmed, as grey embers under storm, actors from our reverie still acted. A boy ventures into decaying Broceliande with the May Hawk’s daughter, both in search of fathers. Sir Gawain, bereft of his nation, rides in search of my tomb—but finds a friend turned enemy. In the Britain’s hour of need, the round table will be restored to defend Logres in the sky, in the London Blitz.

“My tutor, Bleys, will take a fool’s horse, and two adventurers will trace my dying steps across the world. Sir Lionel’s remains will visit the remains of the Arthurian world, and the Victorians will strive to make a gentleman of Mordred. The Questing Beast will never cease to haunt Pellinore’s line, no matter how far north they trend. The old witch, Morgan, will seek forgiveness. The holy lance will appear once more. And a queen who is no longer a queen will meet a knight who is no longer a knight, and both will marvel at the grave of the greatest king who served his country.

“These may be read, in full, inside.

“But I am tired now, and Nimue calls for me…”

An all-new anthology from the award-winning curator Nicole Petit, featuring stories by Colin Fisher, Leigh Ann Cowan, Amy Wolf, Thomas Olivieri, Jon Black, Patricia S. Bowne, Claudia Quint, David Wiley, Christian Bone, Patrick S. Baker, and Elizabeth Zuckerman.

My Thoughts: This collection is among the greatest in any anthology I have ever picked up. It starts out by delivering a strong story with “The May Hawk’s Daughter” by Colin Fisher which is, arguably, itself worth the price of the anthology. There are many other gems within these pages, with some that will hold strong appeal for certain readers while others may fall flat. This is the problem with any anthology: even the best set of stories will have ones that fall flat for a reader. Yet the diversity in an anthology is one of the most exciting things about it.

The stories in this collection are all bound by a loose thread: they are taking some aspect of Arthurian lore and imagining what happened to it after Arthur’s death. In some stories it follows the characters from the story shortly after Arthur’s death. Others follow objects, such as the holy lance, as they travel into new places in history. They are as diverse in approach and subject matter as the authors themselves, making for a solid collection that will hold appeal to a multitude of readers.

If you are a fan of King Arthur, you will not be disappointed by the treatment of the material by these writers. If you are looking for modern writers to discover, this would be an excellent investment. I have already made note of a few from this collection that I will be following closely, looking back at what they have published and looking ahead to their future publications and contributions. All in all, this is a beautiful book for your shelf filled with a variety of wonderful stories that will whisk you along to various eras and follow along various characters that you are familiar with from the Arthurian legend. You will not regret purchasing a copy of this anthology.

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Book Blitz: Curse of Stars by Donna Compositor

05 Sunday Feb 2017

Posted by David Wiley in Books and Reading, Fantasy, Young Adult

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Curse of Stars, Diamond Crier, Donna Compositor, Fantasy, Xpresso Book Tours, Young Adult



Curse of Stars
Donna Compositor
(Diamond Crier #1)
Publication date: February 19th 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Sabi Perez is the last Diamond Crier, only she doesn’t know it. Not until a crazed ruler from another world comes to collect her priceless tears and won’t take no for an answer.

Living in New York, Sabi’s seen some nasty things, but the lengths to which her captor will go to keep his crown are things found only in the darkest nightmares. Afraid and alone, Sabi finds solace in her cellmate, Anya, and Cabal, a fellow Crier who also has powers, a rare combination that buys his favor from the ruler. Only it’s a favor he doesn’t want.

In a fit of rage, power erupts out of Sabi, the same power Cabal has, and a spark of hope ignites. Together they may have a chance at escape, something no other Crier has done. Except a ruler hellbent on draining them of every last diamond tear isn’t their only hurdle. If they escape they’ll be hunted to the ends of the earth, if they survive the trek to safety. If they stay the ruler will leech them dry. Sabi would rather die trying than lie down and die, even if that means running away into even more danger.

“. . . vividly imagined and deftly plotted dark fantasy . . .” BookLife Prize in Fiction

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iBooks

—

EXCERPT:

“You must be Sabina,” he said.

Her heart felt ready to explode. Ringing in her ears made it hard to hear but she could have sworn he called her Sabina. She didn’t know whether to answer him or not. She went by Sabi but her birth certificate said Sabina. He wasn’t wrong, but she wasn’t about to admit that.

“Sabina Petris.”

The sound of his voice was soft, almost welcoming. But the way he looked at her, how his gaze bored directly into her eyes, it sent goose bumps across her skin. All she wanted to do right then was leave.

“Sorry,” she choked, the word barely making it out. “You have the wrong house.”

The thin smile that sliced across his face like a paper cut cracked open to reveal gleaming teeth underneath. Sabi couldn’t help but think of a wolf and how he would eat her with his big teeth.

“I don’t think so. But maybe it’s Perez now, yes? At least that’s what my sources say.”

Every thought she had smashed together in her head. He had her name. Her name. But who was Sabina Petris? And why did he say Perez like that wasn’t her real name? Crap, she needed to get out. Now.

“Baby, you okay?”

Sabi jumped and nearly choked on her heart. Keeping her eyes on the man in front of her she called down to Mrs. Wexler in the steadiest voice she could muster, “Fine. I’m fine.”

Nothing about her cracking voice sounded fine.

“Why don’t you come on down? Come sit with me until your Mama gets home?”

Yes! That’s what she’d do. Nothing could happen if she stayed out in the open with Mrs. Wexler. She took a step backward, not daring to turn her back on the man, but she stopped when he spoke.

“Perhaps you shouldn’t. Or your sister, Matti is it? Could feel the effects of that poor decision.”

Bile burned Sabi’s throat and her vision swam. The man took a step closer.

“You are my property, Sabina. Your parents knew this. They knew this would happen. Come with me now and I’ll forgive their indiscretions. I can’t say the same for their people, of course. So many deaths piling up behind your parents. Something like that is hard for people to forgive.”

Everything in Sabi’s head cleared and one thing rang out above it all: Matti. Get to Matti. Whoever this guy was, whatever he was saying, he wasn’t right. In the head, in life, in anything. Except just looking at him Sabi knew he was far from harmless. He was too casual, too confident. He was the wolf and she the prey and she was getting too close to backing into a corner.

With every ounce of air she had in her lungs Sabi screamed Mrs. Wexler’s name and booked back down the stairs. Footsteps thundered up to meet her and Mrs. Wexler mumbled ‘outside’ and nearly pushed Sabi down the rest of the stairs. But she didn’t need any help. And she didn’t stop on the stoop or to see what her neighbor was going to do.

Guilt slowed her down, but the way Matti rolled off the man’s tongue made her pump her legs harder. It was blocks to the school, but Sabi wasn’t about to wait at a subway stop, sitting like a duck with a price on its head. She needed to get to Matti.

 

Author Bio:

Donna has been writing since she was in the single digits when she first realized she needed to do something about all the thoughts in her head. After a stint with bad poetry she finally found her way to novels, mainly of the young adult fantasy variety. When she’s not cranking out more stories she works a regular 9 to 5, reads anywhere from 2 to 3 books a week, drinks copious amounts of tea, eats way too much, and makes her own beauty products because her skin turns into a sentient hive if she uses anything else. This is mostly because she lives in the desert where the air siphons water clean out of her. She lives with a man named Steve and several quadrupeds: three cats named Renfield, Sam, and Dean; and a MinPin named Malfoy.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

 

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Blog Tour: Seasons Within by Lele Iturrioz

30 Monday Jan 2017

Posted by David Wiley in Book Release, Books and Reading, Fantasy, Young Adult

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Acorn Publishing, Fantasy, Lele Iturrioz, Seasons Within, Xpresso Book Tours, Young Adult



Seasons Within
Lele Iturrioz
(Acorn Publishing)
Publication date: December 15th 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Most teenage girls know their name, where they came from, who they are. Not G, a beautiful redhead with unusual markings on her wrist. She gets her name from a silver locket she keeps around her neck, unaware the engraved letter “G” on its front holds the secret to her past.

G’s life before the age of six has been a mystery to her. Each night for the last twelve years she’s been haunted by the same nightmare—a war. Horrendous beasts, warriors able to wield the four elements, and a boy who saves her by means of blue fire taunt her memory. But on her eighteenth birthday, G’s life begins to unravel. When she meets her new Chemistry professor, a man with an uncanny resemblance to the boy who saves her, she knows there must be more to her dreams.

It’s dangerous not knowing who you are, what you’re capable of, and what future awaits you. Especially when the darkness that slaughtered your entire world, just found you.

Goodreads / Amazon

 

Author Bio:

Major geek by day, hermit writer by night! Love books, sugar gliders and everything that comes in a delicious taco.

I’m the author of the YA fantasy series, Seasons Within

I spend my time writing, planning on writing, reading, drinking coffee like there was no tomorrow, MMA and chilling with my friends and loved ones.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

 

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Excerpt from the book:

Walking down the hallway, G kept looking at everyone’s faces. Some were excited, others angry, and others sad. Some played around with their phones, some took pictures of each other, and others texted nonstop.

Everything in her life, with the exception from Bobby and Priyam, made G feel like she was missing something. She saw the rest of the people around her like they all had everything figured out, everyone except her. While they all talked and wish to be skinny, date an outrageous number of people, have lots of money to spend on useless stuff and be prom queen, G wished for something more. She wished for knowledge on who she was, for a family, for incredible adventures and for the type of brave and loyal love she sadly finds only on her books. But no… people around her valued more the size of their jeans than any personality trait. And they call me weird… she thought, Well… they probably call me THAT for other reasons. She acknowledged since unlike them, she could understand things in animals that no one understood, she could feel the plants and the flowers, she could sense when the snow was coming, when the spring was starting,  always making her wonder, where she truly belonged. She felt like her life in Truckee, in that school, and everywhere she went wasn’t real, as if she were living inside of one of the video games Priyam loved to play. As if she was waiting for her life to begin. In a constant state of pause.

 

Halfway down the hallway, G and Priyam noticed there was too much commotion around the students. “What is going on?” asked G to one of the overly excited seniors.

“Hot new teacher,” she giggled.

“Poor woman,” Priyam said while tying her black hair in a ponytail.

“No.” The senior student smiled like a kid in a Christmas toy store. “It’s a male teacher.”

Priyam stopped cold. Those were rare creatures at that school, and like always, she needed information. “What’s his name? What class?”

“Mr. Blau.12th grade chemistry.”

“Yes! We are going to have our own Ezra Fitz!” cheered Priyam.

“Since when do you care about what teacher you have?”

“Since he has the word “hot” attached to the word “teacher,” Priyam explained, even if she thought the answer was obvious. “We should go soon. I don’t want to miss out on a good desk.”

 

They arrived at the classroom and noticed the whole front row was already taken by girls. “Guess you weren’t the only one with that brilliant idea,” teased G.

Mrs. Smith, a skinny woman with frizzy brown hair entered the classroom and saw all the girls sitting at the front with the exception of G and Priyam. “I assume everyone knows,” she said starring at the giggling girls at the very front, “but for those who don’t, Mrs. Hale left the institution for personal reasons. In her place will be our new teacher, Mr. Blau.”

“What personal reasons?” G asked Priyam finding it strange that someone like Mrs. Hale would leave her class without a single word. “That woman almost had her baby on the classroom over her obligation to the school.”

“Who cares? It’s not like-” Priyam couldn’t finish her sentence. Her complete attention focused on the new teacher walking into the classroom.

 

Mr. Blau, a tall, toned man in his early-twenties, with light brown hair, a Greek nose and piercing green eyes, walked into the classroom and everyone turned silent. G knew the rumors mentioned the teacher was hot but this was ridiculous. Between the intimidating presence and sharp features, his expression was cold and calculating.

There was a contrast between his youth and age. His face looked young but his manners and clothes him gave an elegant old vibe. His posture was flawless, and so was his body. The fabric of his pants and fitted vest, framed his body, while the rolled up sleeves accentuated his lean, muscular arms. A stylish black leather forearm cuff covered up to a few inches below his left rolled up sleeve. Something about that bracelet made G think of one of the blacksmith’s Priyam loved to flirt with at the yearly Renaissance fair.

Mr. Blau glanced at her classmates and stopped on G. His beauty was breathtaking.

 

G felt like a powerful magnet was pulling her towards him, but unlike everyone else, it wasn’t his looks that were enchanting her, it was the strange feeling of familiarity and need she had for his approval. She felt like she knew him, and more than that, she felt like he knew her too. The real her, whoever that was.

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Author Interview: Travis M. Riddle

17 Tuesday Jan 2017

Posted by David Wiley in Book Release, Books and Reading, Fantasy, Guest Post

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Author Interview, Book Release, Debut Author, Fantasy, Travis M. Riddle, Wondrous

To celebrate the release of his debut book, Wondrous, I am hosting an interview from Travis M. Riddle. You can check out his book on Amazon at this link: Wondrous by Travis M. Riddle

Welcome! Please tell us your name and a little bit about yourself.

travismriddle

My name’s Travis M. Riddle. I currently live in Austin; I went to college here and now I’m working while I do some writing on the side (though if that became my main job I certainly wouldn’t complain).

What motivates you to write?

Just wanting to tell a story, really. I get excited thinking about weird worlds or characters, coming up with little twists and planning out how to drop some foreshadowing or hints into the story, stuff like that. The act of storytelling is just really cool, and I enjoy doing it.

What is the title of your most recent book? Give us a brief overview on what the book is about.

My debut novel is called Wondrous, and it’s admittedly kind of hard to talk about without spoiling a lot of what the book is about. But to put it simply, it follows a boy named Miles who goes to sleep tucked tightly in his bed in Texas and wakes up in a fantasy kingdom that is in the middle of a civil war. The book is about Miles grappling with this new world and trying to find a way to open up a portal to take him back to Austin, all while contending with the strange monsters and people he meets there. The full synopsis can be found on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32578571-wondrous).

What makes it unique from the other books out there?

wondrouscover

What makes Wondrous unique is its blend of the fantastical and the real. Even though it’s billed as a fantasy novel, around a quarter of it (maybe a little less) takes place in Austin, with scenes from Miles’ life back home interspersed throughout his adventure. It’s also a story with (what I hope to be) a surprising emotional core that goes to unexpected places and tackles issues that aren’t normally seen in a novel like this. But that’s getting into spoiler territory again!

What is the title of your current work-in-progress or the most recent manuscript you’ve completed apart from your most recent book? Would you mind sharing what it is about?

I’ve got two things sort of in the pipeline at the moment. One is a fantasy novel with a storyline that has already gone through a couple iterations despite my only having written two chapters of it, so I’m hesitant to say much about it yet. But the basic idea is this story following three main characters, taking place in one town, where some bad stuff is going down. I want it to have a similar feel and tone as the video game Final Fantasy IX, which is a big influence on its characters, creatures, world, and generally the entire aesthetic.

The other novel is more of a literary fiction piece that is as of yet untitled but I’ve been referring to it as “Mascot” for now because that’s less of a mouthful than “Untitled Book About The Guy Who Wants to Be a Mascot and Other Such Stuff.” It’s about, as you can probably guess, a recent college graduate who’s trying to become a national sports team mascot. There’s a bit more to it than that, but that’s the underlying premise.

What are some of your other non-book influences besides Final Fantasy IX?

I watch a lot of movies and TV–probably an unhealthy amount, if you were to ask any of my friends or look at my blu-ray collection–so I think my writing is probably more influenced by that than by other writers. With Wondrous in particular, I think it has a lot in common with the films created by Studio Ghibli, especially with Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro wherein Miyazaki so perfectly blended the fantastical with the real world and crafted stories that can be appreciated by a younger audience but deliver on deeper themes and emotions for adults. That was really my aim with this book, to create something that can be enjoyed on different levels by anyone, no matter their age.

How often do you write?

Not as often as I’d like, but whenever inspiration strikes I tend to find some time to do it. Unfortunately I do go through spurts where I’m just not feeling it and go without writing for several weeks, but then the opposite happens and I write a chapter a day for a while. It just depends on how busy I am and how I’m feeling, I suppose.

What famous author would you compare your own writing style with?

Wow, I have no idea who I’d compare myself to. Though when I was in early high school and just starting to really write my own novels, I was pretty much a Chuck Palahniuk copycat as far as style goes. I am very glad those drafts are nowhere to be found.

Who are five of your favorite authors?

It’s a pretty eclectic list, but my favorite working authors are probably Max Barry, Stephen King, Daniel Abraham, James S.A. Corey (which is half Abraham but I’m counting it as another person), and Mark Z. Danielewski.

Barry is someone who hasn’t written a book I’ve disliked and I’m always anxious to see what idea he comes up with next; no two books of his are the same. King is someone I’ve actually only gotten into in the past year, but in that year I’ve become obsessed and read nearly 20 of his books. I’ve been going through the Dark Tower series and its related novels and it’s been so fun and awesome. Abraham/Corey just write super solid fantasy and sci-fi with amazing worlds and interesting characters (plus the TV show based on their Expanse series is pretty good too). And Danielewski is always doing something weird and experimental with print, which I’m always excited about; his new series The Familiar is really cool and I suggest you check it out if you get the chance. It’s not very accessible, I admit, but it’s been pretty neat so far and I’m excited to see where this epic tale is going.

What are you currently reading?

As I mentioned before, I’m chugging along through the Dark Tower series and its related books (it’s crazy how Stephen King tied so much of his bibliography into this one story), trying to finish before the movie comes out next year since I know it takes elements from several of the books so I don’t want to be spoiled.

But I’m also looking forward to finally diving into the new Jonathan Safran-Foer book Here I Am, the latest book in the Expanse series (Babylon’s Ashes), and the next Familiar book, entitled Hades, in February.

Time for some quick questions:

  • Favorite Quote? I’m not sure what the policy for foul language is here, but what comes to mind is that Kurt Vonnegut quote about the horse. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you should look the story up.
  • Favorite Book?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you could be one character from your own writing, who would it be and why?

That’s a tough one. Maybe Mortimer from “Wondrous,” because he’s so optimistic and good-hearted and always tracks down the best meals. Food is maybe the best thing there is in the world besides dogs, so I want to eat the best.

Finally, what advice would you give to other writers?

At some point while writing “Wondrous,” I found out that there was a book with a slightly similar premise, and I was pretty devastated. I figured that was the end, time to scrap it and think of a new idea, despite the fact I’d already written half the book. But then I realized…there are so many books and movies and shows and songs and everything else that are similar to each other, just executed in their own different ways.

If you have an idea that you’re really passionate about, a story that you really connect with, don’t stop writing it just because you find out it’s not the first time anyone in the world has had that same general thought as you. You’re still going to write it differently. Your world is different, your characters are unique, and that other author does not have your viewpoint. The story will still be yours, so don’t be afraid to just write it.

Author’s Links:

www.twitter.com/traviswanteat

www.facebook.com/travismriddle

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32578571-wondrous

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Blog Tour: Roseblood by A.G. Howard

11 Wednesday Jan 2017

Posted by David Wiley in Book Release, Books and Reading, Fantasy

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

A.G. Howard, Book Release, Fantasy, Phantom of the Opera, Rockstar Book Tours, Roseblood, Young Adult

I am so
excited that ROSEBLOOD by A.G.
Howard releases today and that I get to share the news!
If you
haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author A.G. Howard, be sure to
check out all the details below.
 
This blitz
also includes a giveaway for a signed ROSEBLOOD poster and a mask courtesy of
A.G. and Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the
Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

 

About The Book:
Title: ROSEBLOOD
Author: A.G.
Howard
Pub.
Date:
 January 10, 2016
Publisher: Amulet
Books
Pages: 432
Formats: Hardcover,
paperback, eBook
Find it: Amazon, B&N, iBooks, Audible, Goodreads
In this modern day spin on Leroux’s gothic tale of unrequited love turned
to madness, seventeen-year-old Rune Germain has a mysterious affliction linked
to her operatic talent, and a horrifying mistake she’s trying to hide. Hoping
creative direction will help her, Rune’s mother sends her to a French arts
conservatory for her senior year, located in an opera house rumored to have
ties to The Phantom of the Opera.
At RoseBlood, Rune secretly befriends the masked Thorn—an elusive
violinist who not only guides her musical transformation through dreams that
seem more real than reality itself, but somehow knows who she is behind her own
masks. As the two discover an otherworldly connection and a soul-deep romance
blossoms, Thorn’s dark agenda comes to light and he’s forced to make a deadly
choice: lead Rune to her destruction, or face the wrath of the phantom who has
haunted the opera house for a century, and is the only father he’s ever known.
 
 
About A.G. Howard
 

A.G. Howard
was inspired to write SPLINTERED while working at a school library. She always
wondered what would’ve happened had the subtle creepiness of Alice’s Adventures
in Wonderland taken center stage, and she hopes her darker and funkier tribute
to Carroll will inspire readers to seek out the stories that won her heart as a
child.

When she’s not writing, A.G.’s pastimes are reading, rollerblading, gardening,
and family vacations which often include impromptu side trips to 18th century
graveyards or condemned schoolhouses to appease her overactive muse.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Pinterest | Goodreads
Giveaway Details:
 
1 winner will
receive a signed ROSEBLOOD poster and a Mask. US Only.
 
Ends on January
17th at Midnight EST!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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