Signed Paperbacks Available!
I’ve just set up an online store for buying paperbacks signed by me!
You can purchase any of the books I’ve written, and have a customizable dedication text written above the signature if you like. The price is a bit higher than the standard Amazon paperback price, due to the costs of holding inventory shipped from Amazon, then re-shipping them to you.
World Fantasy Convention Over!
Well, I’m back from the World Fantasy Convention in LA!
It was quite a productive experience. I got about 80 pages written, met some great writers, and even got to spend a little quality time with my wife.
Now that I’m back, I’m working hard on finishing up the sequel to The Lost Gemini and an all-new book, and after I finish these, I’m planning on doing the fifth book in the Runic series and the fourth book in the Fate of Legends series.
As always, I’ll keep you posted!
Behind the Scenes #5 - Destroyer of Legends
Spoiler alert! If you haven’t read the full series, go no further!
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For the Fate of Legends series, in addition to discussing themes of self vs. community, and how each individual chooses to sacrifice some of their own personality to fit in with a group, I also wanted to explore several different mythologies.
My wife is part Native American, from the Wampanoag tribe of Massachusetts. She also has some Norwegian ancestry, in addition to African. As Hunter is very much like his mother, I wanted to include these into the series.
Thus we have Tykus, who is actually one of Leif Erickson’s sons. He traveled to the United States, and quickly found himself transported to a strange world. They found it overrun by what they thought were dark elves, or Svartalfar in Norse mythology. For the dark elves had their own world called Svartalfheim, separate from Miogaror, or earth. They assumed the portal to this world was one of many allowing travel to the nine worlds of their mythology.
The Kingdom of the Deep is the land of the original Native Americans that went through the portal to the world, long before the Norse or the English and eventually American settlers arrived. They carry the belief system similar to the Wompanoag tribe.
In LA for the World Fantasy Convention!
I’m at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott for the World Fantasy Convention!
If you’re attending the convention, feel free to stop by and say hi! I’ll be here for the whole convention, from Oct 31st to Nov 3rd. Should be a blast!
Behind the Scenes #4 - Seeker of Legends
King Tykus was one of my favorite characters to write in the second book of the Fate of Legends series. But in fact, when I arrived at the first chapter with him in it, I was going to make him entirely different. A typical king, espousing the viewpoints of the kingdom that bore his name. Dominant, abrupt, and controlling.
But as I wrote, it felt…wrong. So as usual, I stopped trying to control things and let Tykus write himself. Needless to say, the result was something entirely different than I had expected…and provided a much richer experience for me.
Sometimes characters do write themselves, if you let them. And I’ve found my characters to be far better writers than I am!
The Lost Gemini Now Available!
The Lost Gemini, the 2nd book in the Magic of Havenwood series, is now available for paperback and Kindle!
Cover reveal: The Lost Gemini!
Here is the cover for the sequel to The Magic Collector!
I’ll be posting the first few chapters to the website soon. Working on the final draft now! I plan on having it published by mid-October or so.
First Draft Complete!
The first draft of The Lost Gemini, the sequel to The Magic Collector, is complete!
I’ll be working hard on editing it for the next month or two, as well as working on the third book in the Magic of Havenwood series…and another book as well.
As usual, I’ll keep you posted on the home page of my website, and on this blog. And I’ll be posting a sneak preview of The Lost Gemini soon!
Behind the Scenes #3 - Seeker of Legends
SPOILER ALERT!
In Seeker of Legends, Vi somehow manages to curve arrows in mid-air. One of my beta-readers mentioned that, while they liked the book, it really bothered them that I’d made her able to do that. After all, it’s impossible to curve arrows…right?
Wrong!
In fact, archers can curve arrows not only left and right, but also vertically. I’m surprised that more movies and books don’t mention this, as it’s pretty awesome. And it’s not particularly complicated to do.
Behind the Scenes #2 - Runic Awakening
(SPOILER ALERT!)
Runic Awakening was originally conceived, among other things, as an exploration of different kinds of father-figures.
Kyle struggles with seeing Steve as his new stepfather, resisting the thought of having more than one person he calls “Dad.” When he’s transported to Doma, he finds Kalibar, who becomes a surrogate father-figure for him. Darius is also a father-figure, as is the Dead Man…and later, Sabin tries to become a parent for all mankind.
Kalibar is the nurturing, kind, and patient mentor…the one that Kyle ultimately chooses as his surrogate father.
Darius is hands-off and gruff, forcing Kyle to sink or swim. Not at all nurturing, he teaches by doing and forcing Kyle to go beyond his comfort zone.
The Dead Man is a good teacher, but is cruel and manipulative. He cares about Kyle in his own twisted way, but is abusive and controlling.
This theme extended to the subsequent books, including the latest one: Runic Revolt.
Behind the Scenes #1 - Hunter of Legends
Did you know that Vi from the Fate of Legends series was supposed to be a man?
When I first envisioned Hunter of Legends, I imagined Hunter meeting his mentor about halfway through the book. This mentor was going to be a middle-aged man, a bit gruff, and reluctant to teach Hunter how to be a Seeker.
But when I reached the chapter where this mentor was introduced, I just couldn’t write him as a “he.” In a split second, Vi was born…and the rest is history.
So when she’s first introduced, Hunter, Sukri, Gammon, and Kris mistake her for a man…a nod toward her original identity!
The Lost Gemini!
I’m about 300 pages in to the sequel to “The Magic Collector,” which I’m calling “The Lost Gemini!”
The book cover should be done by the end of September or so, and I’m hoping that I’ll have it published by November. I’ve got the World Fantasy Convention coming up, and am preparing for that, so I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me!
After I finish The Lost Gemini, I’m planning on working on a fourth book in the Fate of Legends series…a sequel to Destroyer of Legends. At the same time, I’ll either be working on the third book in the Magic of Havenwood series, or on the first book in a totally new series.
As always, I’ll keep you posted!
Hunter of Legends Featured on Ezvid!
Hunter of Legends is now featured on Ezvid Wiki Books Review! It was listed as one of their 12 fantasy books with fascinating lore.
Check out the link below:
https://wiki.ezvid.com/m/12-immersive-fantasies-with-fascinating-lore-492Q5c-WyeBXP
The Magic Collector on Sale!
The Magic Collector Kindle ebook is now on sale for $2.99!
https://www.amazon.com/Magic-Collector-Havenwood-Book-ebook/dp/B07V32KDCH
Magic of Havenwood Series Update
I just passed the halfway point in the sequel to the Magic Collector!
I’m going strong on the sequel, and hope to have it published before the end of the year. The book cover will be completed by October, just in time for the World Fantasy Convention.
Speaking of which, I’ll be attending the World Fantasy Convention in LA this year! If you happen to be going as well, feel free to say hello. I’d love to meet you!
The Magic Collector, paperback version available!
The paperback version of The Magic Collector, my new fantasy novel, is now available on Amazon!
Click here to get the paperback version.
Click here to get the Kindle version.
Why I Wrote the Magic Collector
The idea for The Magic Collector began with a vision.
A girl sitting at a table in a library, opening a book. And when she finishes it, she looks up…and everyone in the library is gone.
I combined this with inspiration I received from listening to a talk by Gregory Manchess during the first World Fantasy Convention I attended, in 2017. A gifted painter, Mr. Manchess mentioned that he learned that what drew people to paintings and book covers was the story created by the art…and a mystery within that story that made people want to know more.
This idea, combined with the vision of a girl in a library lost in a book, was the seed that grew into the tale told by The Magic Collector.
My wife and I, having two boys, planned on having another child. If we had a girl, my wife wanted to name her Bellatrix. My wife is a wonderfully dark person, identifying with villains far more so than heroes. And she loves the moon, and wolves, and Halloween. So of course her daughter - if she existed - would share these qualities.
And thus, Bella was born. Not in real life (yet), but in a book.
So, with the idea that art was the process of telling stories, and that a very dark but sweet girl named Bella would get lost in a book, I created the characters and world of The Magic Collector. Grandpa represented my journey as a writer, and the lessons I’d learned as an artist and a father.
The story grew as it was written, as is the case with all books. And as it grew, more characters sprang forth from the ether, and the magic of writing took hold. My characters took on a life of their own, and I drew them forth from the page, making them real…for myself, and I hope, for some of you.
I took great pleasure in writing The Magic Collector. If you experience a fraction of that joy reading it, then I will be quite content.
Thank you for reading!
The Magic Collector now available on Kindle!
Click below to get your copy of The Magic Collector on Kindle!
The Magic Collector is Publishing!
The Magic Collector is now complete!
It is currently in the process of being published to Amazon’s site, and should be available in a few hours at least, and tomorrow morning at the latest, if things go as per the usual. The paperback will take a bit longer, and will take some time to be linked to the ebook version.
I’ll be posting links to each version as soon as they are available.
Cover Design Preview for the Magic Collector!
Here’s a preview for my next book, to be published this month!
