Guest Post: Author/Artist Thomas P. Barczak

I started writing Veil of the Dragon about nine years ago with the dialogue between what would become the two main characters, Chaelus and Al-Aaron.

A man and a boy, a student and his teacher. I fell in love with their paradox. The constant one that would guide me through the rest of the book.

But the inspiration for Veil of the Dragon came even before that, in my paintings and in my music, and even again before that, when I was a kid sitting at a table with friends playing Dungeons and Dragons.

Everything in between is like a big sack that I draw from, images and feelings that have stayed with me, waiting to be written.
So I write them.

With my day job as an Architect, and with my family, along with other commitments, that is sometimes difficult. But it’s not impossible.

But I have had to learn balance. As I have done so, I have learned there is always enough time in the day to do the things I am supposed to do. When I get into trouble is when I pick up the things that I am not supposed to.

Yet another pitfall is not setting myself up to fail. It is rare that I have several hours at a stretch to write. But what I do have nearly every day, is 15 minutes, somewhere. So sometimes I just have to learn to be happy with that. And most days I am.

And when I can’t write the words, I draw them.

 One of the decisions that I made along the way is that Veil of the Dragon is going to be an illustrated novel. I just don’t think it cannot be.

That’s not to say that either the writing or artwork could not stand up on their own, because I believe they do. But I believe they work better together. I am doing it because I can do both, and I know that not everyone else gets to. They get to do other stuff.

 All this is very exciting for me.

 It is a brave new world.

 Regarding the status of things, I am waiting to hear back on Veil of the Dragon from a publisher I really like. While I wait, I am working on chapter illustrations and making minor revisions to Veil. I am already established into the second book, Mouth of the Dragon.

In between all of that I do my best to network.

As for the ever changing publishing industry in general, I am both excited and somewhat apprehensive. My vision imagines the return of the small bookseller, with slightly higher prices, but with an online portal directly to Amazon so that they can get a cut while their patrons grab a cup a coffee at their espresso bar.

Until then you can always visit my Author’s website at www.tombarczak.com
Or my blog at www.tombarczak.com/blog
Or even follow me @barczaktom on Twitter.

God Bless.
Tom Barczak

Review Plan!

New idea, and I'm very excited about it!

So, I won't really be able to call this plan fully official until I finish my current Upcoming Book List, but I'd like to know beforehand. If you're an author who really wants coverage for their book, would you be willing to pay the cheap price of five bucks for this Review Plan?

Q's and A's with J.S. Chancellor

Novel-Specific

1.) Ariana, the female main character in 'Son of Ereubus,' is feisty, powerful, and strong-willed, and not in that cliche way action chicks often are either. She grew throughout the story, became more open-minded to the world around her and gained authority. How similar are you to Ariana?

*Thank you, first of all. I love hearing that Ariana has been perceived exactly as I see her. I’ve had readers who know me well, tell me that even had they not been aware that I’d written Son of Ereubus, that they would have figured it out because I am SO much like Ariana that its unmistakable. Aside from the obvious physical attributes (I have long red hair, pale skin and blue eyes), I also have her sarcasm and sense of brash courage. What I don’t have, however, are her equestrian and archery skills. That’s something I hope to remedy one day.

2.) In my review, I summarized my thoughts about the romance between Ariana and Garren as follows: "Generally, I love that the romance never takes the story over, while also enhancing it and being of importance to the overall plot." How did you want readers to react to their romance?

*Exactly as you stated it—literally. In fact in the early early stages of the draft, I nearly wrote that exact line in the journal I was using to plot Guardians in. Their love story is the heart of the overall epic, but what makes each novel unique on its own, is the individual stories of the secondary characters; Bronach, Azrian, Duncan, Sara, Gabriel, Aiden, Tadraem and how they all interact with the three principle characters.

3.) In other articles about you, I read that it took you about 14 years to complete 'Son of Ereubus.' Was that just for the first book or the other two books in 'Guardians of Legend' trilogy as well? Was there a particular section in 'Son of Ereubus' you struggled with the most?

*Actually, I’m not entirely sure where that came from. I’ve read it myself and all I can figure is that it was assumed that when I said I drafted the first couple chapters of what is now Son of Ereubus when I was fourteen, that I worked on the books the entire time between then and signing my contract with Rhemalda, but that simply isn’t true. I stopped and didn’t pick the story up again until July of 2006. I finished all three books in a year, then set them aside for 6 months before beginning the process of revision and editing, and after that my grandmother-in-law helped set me up with a freelance editor who went through my final draft and taught me how to polish a manuscript. So, all in all, you could technically say it took me 14 years, but it really only took about 2.

*The area I’ve struggled with the most so far in the series has been keeping facts straight. Guardians of Legend is the first trilogy in a planned set of three. So, there aren’t three books, there are nine. This world—these characters—all of it is HUGE. The world building has been shown little by little because it would be WAY too much to reveal all at once. My desk is littered with genealogies, maps and story archs. More than a few readers have stated that the beginning of Son of Ereubus confused them, and that they were grateful that we included a glossary at the back of the book, and my fervent hope is that the further they get into the story, the more tangible the world itself will become, and the more easily understood. For the record, since I’ve mentioned the other books, Guardians is a stand-alone trilogy. There will only be one thread left undone at the end of the trilogy, and it’s relatively minor in the scheme of things (at the time anyway. It turns up to be a BIG deal later on). So, rest assured, all of the bomb dropping will be over with soon. The second trilogy, Origins, goes back in time and picks up where The Dark Goddess Ciara entered into Middengard, Irial and Eanna’s past, etc.

4.) In a lot of reviews, people have consistently brought up J. R. R. Tolkien. I even did that in my review, when I said, "The story ends similar to the first book of Lord of the Rings, in that there are many loose threads and much more at stake than when the story started." How do you feel about people comparing your work to that of Tolkien's?

*I’m always a little stunned whenever I see his name come up. I mean … I’ve said it myself only because I couldn’t think of any other fantasy author my in-laws would recognize by name, but when real fantasy fans liken my worlds to his (in a good way, not in a you’ve-ripped-off-Tolkien kind of way), I’m always blown away. It’s the greatest honor I can imagine.

5.) When reading the story, I couldn't help but compare Adorians to angels and Ereubinians to demons. Is it a good or bad thing for readers to go into this story with those comparisons? Did you go into this story with those comparisons?

*I think it’s a good thing if it helps the reader put the story into a paradigm that they can understand. I grew up religious, so those sorts of images are always going to be threaded into my work one way or another. I purposely steered away from the titles and direct religious references (aside from Michael and Gabriel) because I wanted the reader to make their own choices on how to see these characters and these worlds. So, to answer your question, yes I did go into this story with those comparisons, but at this point, as familiar as I am now with the world I’ve created and the characters that inhabit it, they’ve become something else entirely and those comparisons, for me, are no longer truly valid.

General Writing

1.) I suppose I should've asked this before the novel-specific questions, but can you tell us about your book(s)?

*I’m so bad at that. You’d think that with the second book coming up soon (and five total under contract) that I’d have a better handle on answering that question. Guardians of Legend is a classic epic fantasy tale, told in the tradition of Clash of the Titans, with a little dash of age-old heroism and modern sarcasm thrown in for good measure. Truly epic in every sense of the word, there isn’t one main character. In Guardians, the reader follows a cast of diverse, multi-faceted characters as they navigate the unraveling fate of their individual lives, and the world they think they know.

2.) Why do you write? How has writing changed your life?

*I write because I have no choice. No, really, I mean that. I’ve been writing stories since I could hold a pencil. My earliest memories are of winning (or being in the running for, can’t recall which) the Young Georgia Author’s Award when I was 6. I was too enamored with the candy peanuts they were serving at the ceremony to care. So, perhaps that was an omen for how I would view later literary success: Irrelevant so long as the candy floweth, and the story is read by someone, somewhere, regardless of who they are, or where.

3.) What's an interesting/embarrasing/funny fact about your writing process that you haven't shared...until now? Also, give us writers open to writing techniques some of yours!

*Oooo, so many, where to start: I think I’ve been in love with most of my male leads at one time or another. I’ve caught myself thinking about them like a teenager dreams about whichever star is currently hogging the pages of Tigerbeat or Big Bopper (are those mags even in print anymore?) So sad. I even pick actors to visualize in my head.

Character Take-Over 

Character name: Azrian, Dark Lord of Hothrendaire
From: Guardians of Legend

1.) Pretend that you're actually a character in a novel. What would you tell the writer who created you?

*We need to have a serious chat about book three. I’ve heard rumors about what you think you’re going to do to me in revisions. These … ahem … changes, and the outcome of Eternal Requiem (what kind of name is that anyway? It reeks of goodness and light. Bleck!) is entirely unsuitable.

2.) Where's your favorite place to be and favorite thing to do?

*Well, messing with mortals does get a bit old after awhile, seeing as how they’re awfully predictable. But, since you’re asking, I want to be anywhere Ariana is … and as far away from Irial as immortally possible.

3.) The old lady down the street is rushing at you with an Uzi. How do you react?

*An Uzi? Interesting. Well, considering that I am, of course, the father of Darkness and mayhem, I suppose I’d be telling her which way to point the thing. Though, the Uzi is such an ineffective weapon. Haven’t you ever heard of a Morior? They’re much more entertaining to use against a foe (not that I really have any). They’re particularly fun when it’s feeding time. Got any enemies you need dispatched?

Thanks Tiff! I can honestly say these were the most original, and most fun questions I’ve answered in a LONG time! Thank you SOO much for having me at Triple R: It’s an honor!

J.S.

The Law of Nines by Terry Goodkind

Alex's day officially becomes odd when a pirate flag, a truck, and a beautiful girl suddenly relate to him. While waiting at the curb, the flag above the truck grabs his attention -- the girl, not so much; at least not until he learns the hard way that he should've been watching the scary man driving the truck. Alex pulled him and the mysterious girl back seconds before they could become roadkill. Had the police not approached, the man might have attempted to kill them again.

What a great, startling way to start a twenty-seventh birthday.

Jax, the girl Alex saved from the truck, adds to this confusion when she explains why she needs to talk to Alex. The Law of Nines, an important concept in Jax's world, states that threes -- pivotal spell numbers -- are a base component of nine. Twenty-seven is key because it's the third nine. Not only is Alex twenty-seven, but his last name is Rahl, making him a descendent of the once powerful House of Rahl.

That name and that age makes Alex a walking death signal for himself and everyone close to him. There's little to no safe place from the ruthless killers ready to take out anyone to get the answers that they want.
Can Alex, a struggling artist, and Jax, a girl more accustomed to a world with magic, save both of their worlds? Even when it seems impossible, this duo maintains a high amount of strength and intelligence. Terry Goodkind weaves a riveting story that proves the power of partnerships.

Reviewed by Tiffany T. Cole for Suspense Magazine.

Changes...

After seeking advice and many nights of thinking, thinking, thinking, I've decided to make some changes to Triple R. Why? It all goes back to me being one person - an 18-year-old with lofty goals and many commitments both personally and professionally who will be going to college June 18th. I want to try my hardest, but without burning myself out, so changes are ahead. They are as follows:

1.) I will only do TWO guest appearances a month instead of a new guest appearance every Saturday.
2.) I will no longer do Freebie Friday and I am taking the newsletter option away.
3.) I won't be writing articles here unless said article can be turned into a web series, and I won't do web series' very often. The Facebook guide was my first one.
4.) A post every Tuesday will NOT be necessary. I will post whenever I can, preferably when I have a book review in need of promotion.

Of course, none of this will come into effect until I finish this upcoming round of guest appearances and until I finish the first ten books on my Upcoming Book List. Afterward, I'm probably gonna take a break for a month or two to better work on my novel and other freelancing projects.

I love what I do; I don't have any intentions to stop because this is what makes me who I am, but I do know when to slow down. Thanks for reading this!

Frost Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

Elena Michaels, the world's only female werewolf and main candidate for Pack leader, is determined to help Reese...even if that means chasing him through three cities for days on end. She knows he didn't kill those people in South Carolina, that the mutts he thought could help him assimilate to the werewolf lifestyle in America framed him, because Elena couldn't save a young werewolf from a similar case once before. She is determined not to make the same mistake twice.

When Clay - Elena's werewolf husband notorious for being vicious - comes back, they continue the chase in Anchorage, Alaska. In Anchorage, though, there's much more to worry about than Reese. One thing leads to another, and the couple quickly finds themselves investigating into mutts, murder, and a terrifying werewolf more beast than man. Then there's the personal stakes, too. Can Elena overcome her fears and accept that she will one day be Alpha Wolf, even if the title may greatly alter her relationship with Clay?

Overall, I liked the book. Though I haven't read any of the books before this one, I didn't feel confused, like I was missing too big a piece of the puzzle to understand the plot. Still, I would like the next book I read by Kelley Armstrong to be the first book of the Otherworld series so I can see how the characters have grown.

The writing is clear and direct, which makes the book easier to read; this also enhances the action, though I'm not sure how I felt about all the chases and fights. Don't get me wrong; I love reading action-packed scenes as much as I love writing them. However, at some point, I felt disillusioned with the action.

******************
My name is Tiffany Cole, and I'm a book reviewer for Suspense Magazine, a contributor for the Best Damn Creative Writing Blog (BDCWB) and the admin of Triple R, a book reviewing site. I am also an aspiring young writer. Savior of the Damned, the supernatural/dark urban fantasy novel I've been writing and editing for five years, is currently undergoing its 6th revision for what will hopefully be a successful full manuscript submission to the wonderful publishing house that requested one. You can find me in many places:
writergirllw@yahoo.com http://www.fuisti.blogspot.com/ {Triple R: Read, Rate, Review}http://www.tiffanyrambles.blogspot.com http://www.suspensemagazine.com/
http://www.rhemalda.com/public_forum/ http://www.bestdamncreativewritingblog.com/ http://www.tinyurl.com/27x9sdz {My Facebook}

Guest Post: Atomic Fez Publishing and Bringing Fun Back

House Name: Atomic Fez Publishing
Manager: Ian Alexander Martin (although he does everything short of write the books and create the covers, so "Manager" seems a tad limiting).
Date Est.: May 2009
Submissions: I've got more than enough right now...let's say "not accepting" and be safe.
Genre: ...is "yes" an acceptable answer? Anything with a touch of humour and a bit of uniqueness, really. Mystery, Slip-stream, Steapmpunk, SF, and fiction. No poetry; no romance. Non-fiction slightly possible, but it's gotta be different.
Size: Tiny. One man. Shallow pockets (actually, no pockets at all). Both e-books and paper.
Contact: ian@atomicfez.com

*******************

 

You probably haven’t heard of Atomic Fez Publishing before because it’s fairly new. Atomic Fez is a Vancouver, BC-based Canadian publisher founded in May 2009. The publishing company formally launched in March 2010 at the World Horror Convention in Brighton, UK. Given the long lead time required to produce books, Atomic Fez is still a relatively new publisher. We published five books in 2010 and plan to release another four in 2011.

Atomic Fez publishes ‘eclectic, genre-busting fiction. This sounds neat, but confuses some people. To explain, the five titles published in 2010 span a variety of genres and combine elements of several in each book. For example, The Terror and the Tortoiseshell, John Travis’s first in the Benji Spriteman Series, combines elements of fantasy, mystery, noir, and science fiction as the animal kingdom moves from four legs to two and banishes the human population. Benji Spriteman is a sentient, six-foot tall, suit-wearing tortoiseshell cat. And one heck of a detective too. Thus, you get four styles of fiction in one book, plus a cat.

Why this seemingly un-focused approach to things? Because it’s more interesting. Not all books are ‘serious works of ahrt.’ When I started Atomic Fez, I wanted to bring some of the fun back into the publishing business and produce books whose primary purpose was to entertain rather than instruct.

Take, for example, the logo: the absurdity of the fez as a piece of headgear in combination with the hope of the dawning of the 'atomic age’ – that kind of retro glam – made me laugh. Books should surprise, entertain, and occasionally elevate your mood. Why not, for instance, cross Mad Men with The Jetsons and see what happens?

Atomic Fez believes eBooks should never cost more than the average price of a mass-market paperback, and has always released its titles in both printed and eBook format simultaneously. This year we're going to experiment with the publishing schedule a bit.

Two of our five 2010 titles were published in jacket-less hardcover format; the other three as trade paperbacks. We're going to do our best this year to reduce production costs so we can also reduce the cost to the consumer. We're also going to consider more trade paperback publishing and – potentially – publishing of eBooks prior to printed versions.

Late in 2010 we reduced our eBook pricing by 33%. Most eBook titles are now $6.99, while shorter books like Andrew Hook’s Ponthe Oldenguine are only $4.99. We'd like to achieve similar price reductions for our paper books – while still managing to pay the printer, the authors and ourselves.

Atomic Fez does not believe – regardless of any issues relating to piracy or illegal downloading – that eBook sales 'cannibalize' printed book sales. In fact, eBooks actually allow for simultaneous worldwide distribution and save consumers both time and money on shipping costs.

Follow and interact with me on Twitter using @AtomicFez, ‘like’ the Facebook page at facebook.com/AtomicFezPublishing, and visit the site at AtomicFez.com. Or join our Goodreads group to see interviews with the Atomic Fez authors: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/40127.Atomic_Fez_Publishing

Freebie Friday #8: Rhemalda Publishing Freebie Package

Rhemalda Publishing guest appeared on Triple R not too long ago. If you'd like to know more about the house, go to its website and/or read what they had to say when they guest appeared.

I have much respect for Rhemalda and its endeavors, including how they've grasped the marketing technique of free book giveaways. First, they did so with J.S. Chancellor's giveaway of Son of Ereubus. Now they're doing so with other books of theirs. Here are some links that will point you to some of these giveaways! (All descriptions come from the site or form).

300 Book Giveaway: Rhemalda Publishing and Authors J. S. Chancellor, Walter Rhein and J. Marie Croft are offering 100 copies of 'Son of Ereubus; Guardians of Legend, Book One', 'The Bone Sword' and 'Mr. Darcy Takes the Plunge' to readers who want to help promote the books. If you enjoy reading and want to help promote these books please fill out the form below.

King’s Envoy; Artesans of Albia, Book One by Cas Peace: Rhemalda Publishing and Author Cas Peace are hosting a blog tour for King's Envoy; Artesans of Albia, Book One. The tour will begin on the publication date of King's Envoy August 15, 2011 and run for 1 month. Here's your chance! Fill out the form below for a chance to receive a copy of King's Envoy while supplies last. ARC's are available in print and electronic format (.epub and .epf).

Beyond Birkie Fever by Walter Rhein: Rhemalda Publishing and Author Walter Rhein are hosting a blog tour for Beyond Birkie Fever. The tour will begin on the publication date of Beyond Birkie Fever October 1, 2011 and run for 1 month. Here's your chance! Fill out the form below for a chance to receive a copy of Beyond Birkie Fever while supplies last. ARC's are available in print and electronic format (.epub and .epf).

Legends Reborn; The Light of Epertase, Book One: Rhemalda Publishing and Author Douglas R. Brown are hosting a blog tour for Legends Reborn; The Light of Epertase, Book One. The tour will begin on the publication date of Legends Reborn, August 1, 2011 and run for 1 month. Here's your chance! Fill out the form below for a chance to receive a copy of Legends Reborn while supplies last. ARC's are available in print and electronic format (.epub and .epf).

Rhemalda Opus: Features articles on writing, author interviews, the story behind their house, and book descriptions.

Guest Post: Maggie Berkley and Love/Perspective

I watched a movie a few days ago with my son and the undertone of it got me thinking about love. In the movie the 'antihero' is thrown together willingly with the heroine. He's rough and irritated with her and in fear of her life, she does everything she can to keep him amused. Once she has his defenses lowered she tries to escape only to be attacked and once again her life is in danger. This time though the antihero rushes to her protection, defending her against her attackers and in the midst of a big standoff she wordlessly declared herself under his protection. After he defeats her attackers they create a sort of familiar bond and relax into peace and contentment until she is stolen away by those who sought to rescue her from the antihero. His protective nature is kicked into overdrive as he pursues her rescuers, destroying everything in his path in order to reach her and taking more than his fair share of wounds in the process, but in the end winds he up disabled and taken prisoner. The heroine objects to his imprisonment, and leaves as soon as they return to their homeland.

The movie ends with them being reunited and they have a brief moment of peace and joy until once again they are pursued and he, protecting the heroine from danger and suffering from wounds, gives himself over to death that she might live. As always I wind up crying while watching it, to see such a profound love always chokes me up. My son, of course, joked at my expense, rolling his eyes and making quips about how the twosome were mismatched and how sexually their relationship was impossible, while I tried to explain to him love was more than sex. That it was a bond...the ability to connect with someone on a level so deep that you knew they would do everything in their power to keep you safe and protected, both physically and emotionally. That they would give you unconditional support and understanding, that nothing you could say or do would affect the way they felt about you. They would never abandon you, never turn from you, never give you a doubt that they loved you. The kind of love that when you glance over at your husband sprawled on the couch snoring loud enough to wake the dead you want to smack him for not joining in on your heartfest.

Yes, my husband has never done any of the things the antihero did (after all, he's still alive, thank God!) but in his own way he has shown me his love. When I have nightmares he comforts, when I'm sad he consoles me. When I'm angry he gets me to see reason and when I'm insecure he makes me feel beautiful. Would he do everything in his power to keep me safe? Yes, for I've seen it in the past and I can hear it in his voice. How many men would do a beat down on some guy who refused to back away from their woman? And how many men would cry (and try to hide their tears while denying there was anything but a speck in their eyes) during the Notebook and the Time Traveler's Wife? Although we are no longer young and spry, despite the fact that grey hairs are starting to spread over our heads and we wake up sore and stiff he's still my antihero. My gruff, prickly, ogreish hero...who snores loud enough to win a chainsaw competition.

BTW...in case you're wondering, the movie wasn't some romantic drama or even a romance at all. In fact the main characters weren't even part of the same species. One was a human female, slightly emotionally damaged. The other is a giant gorilla, the last of his kind. The movie? King Kong directed by Peter Jackson starring Naomi Watts, Jack Black and Adrien Brody. To me, one of the most beautiful love stories I've ever seen. Watch it some time to see what I mean.

~ ~ ~

As a long time lover of dark fantasy with a touch of romance and horror, Maggie Berkley grew up in a world all her own, one she created as a teenager during her long periods of parental lockdown due to a rebellious nature. As a youth she created short stories and plays for friends and family and as time went on drew on her love of fantasy and horror to write longer stories and fan fiction. Due to the encouragement of family and friends she published and now has two full length e-book novels (Enter the Night: Book One of the Morgan Crowe trilogy, Behind the Throne: Book Two of the Morgan Crowe trilogy) and a short story (Diary of a Vampire). Books are available at Red Rose Publishing, Fictionwise, Bookstrand, and Amazon.

You can contact her at maggieberkley@yahoo.com with any questions or comments or follow her at http://maggieberkley.viviti.com , http://facebook.com/maggieberkley , http://twitter.com/maggieberkley .

The Contest A Flop...

Here's the honest truth. Not sugarcoated or anything. Remember Triple R's First Big Book Giveaway Contest?

It was a total flop, with little to no participation and no entries at all. :/

I didn't waste any time being depressed or angry about this. These days, definitely since I've been learning more about myself thanks to the help of a special certain someone, I've been more willing to take a deep breath and think, "It's not the end of the world when things don't work out. Just breathe, think, and handle it."

With my contest and it's massive failure, I have to take the things below into account. I'm not sure I'll be doing another one of these contests for a while:

• Lasted too long.
• Not enough coverage, even though I tried to put the link to the contest in every post and had event pages in multiple places.
• My presence and Triple R's presence is not strong enough.
• Too many details.

So, how many of you out there tried to manage something big, like a contest or a collection or a site or whatever, and just watched it totally not work out in the end? What do you think were the reasons that made it not work out? Are you willing to try again?