Thursday, March 31, 2011

GUEST AUTHOR - X. WILLIAMSON - DISTRACT MY HUNGER

Today's guest author is X. Williamson and her vampiric horror offering Distract my Hunger. Before I go forth with the promo for this novel, I would like to take this opportunity to thank those who have agreed to guest on this blog...one of the unexpected benefit of this concept has been the opportunity to connect with other authors from around the world.  X. Williamson is a good example of this: X. is short for Xime and she lives in Uruguay where she writes and works as an English teacher...some of the other authors on my blog are from the U.K. and Austrailia...This opportunity to make these global connections has been very gratifying.

Here is the cover art for Distract my Hunger:






Here is a synopsis of X. Williamson's novel:Sometimes who we are is deeply hidden within our genes...


A spellbinding story about discovering one's own nature, and how it can be completely different from what you expected. Can our essence have more to it than simple, plain humanity? Do we really know who we are deep down to the core? Iris is a regular teen; she loves parties and wants to fall in love but something dark and unexpected lurks within her veins... She discovers she was born a vampire and is just waking up to her true self. Life's complexity, well kept secrets and a thrilling twist in Iris's search for her true nature.

If you thought you knew everything about vampires, you are up for a surprise... Nothing you ever believed about them will ever stay the same...


Here are some of the locations where you may purchase Distract my Hunger:


You can follow X. Williamson on her facebook author page:

and on Twitter: @xwilliamson

I hope visitors take a moment to visit Xime and learn more about her novel Distract my Hunger

THE CONVERGING TRILOGY NOW AVAILABLE FROM AMAZON FOR KINDLE



I wanted to announce (with no small measure of delight) that the Converging trilogy is now available from Amazon for Kindle...Amberdias is offering the entire trilogy (1800 plus pages in the paper and ink world) for $6.97. The dark world of Cynara Saravic has never been more readily available.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

GUEST AUTHOR - ADAM SANTO - TEMPERATURE: DEAD AND RISING

Today's featured author is Adam Santo and his self-described wild and creepy fantasy Temperature: Dead and Rising.

Here is the cover art for Temperature: Dead and Rising


Here is a synopsis for Temperature: Dead and Rising

Dark, funny, and filled with suspense, Temperature: Dead and Rising by new author Adam Santo is a wildly creepy fantasy—and a corpse of a good time. When Sally Mertill is driving a carload of her friends back to Green Mountain Falls after visiting Pike’s Peak they’ll careen off the side of the mountain. With no guardrails it’s not surprising there are no survivors. And yet within two days a not altogether bad fellow named Bocnic Drewings will call upon the metal drawer where her body awaits autopsy, open it, and lead her on the adventure of a lifetime—well, that’s if she’d have survived the accident. The powers that be have chosen Sally to become undead and she’s the only other person time eternal who’s been given the power to raise the dead—and control them. When leaders of rival undead clans find out, they either want to control or destroy her, which makes Sally staying undead a bit of a challenge.


Here are just two of the places where you can purchase Adam's novel:

Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=adam+santo&x=14&y=17

Sony reader store:
http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/adam-santo/temperature/_/R-400000000000000323988

Temperature: Dead and Rising is available through all major e-book platforms and retailers.

You can learn more about Adam and Temperature: Dead and Rising at the author's website:

http://www.adamsanto.weebly.com/

I Hope visitors will take a moment and visit Adam's site and learn more about this new fantasy novel!!

Monday, March 28, 2011

GUEST AUTHOR - ROBERT STADNIK - EXODUS OF THE PHEONIX

Today's featured author is Robert Stadnik and his Science Fiction novel entitled Exodus of the Pheonix:

Here is the Cover Art for Exodus of the Pheonix:




Here is the synopsis for Exodus of the Pheonix:

Humanity has been kept bound within the solar system for decades by a hostile alien race known as the Screen. Ships attempting to pass beyond Mars have been destroyed without reason or provocation and communication with this mysterious alien race have failed. Both the military and tri-planetary government have resigned themselves to the notion that humans will never explore the stars, but hope springs forth from the most unlikely of places. Humanity's destiny lies with two inexperienced cadets and an unproven experimental starship. Join cadets John Roberts and Julie Olson as they are introduced to the EXODUS Project and offered the chance to free humanity from its oppressors. This is the first novel of the Exodus series.

Here are a few of the links where visitors may purchase Robert's novel:

Barnes and Noble:
http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?store=BOOK&WRD=robert+stadnik&box=robert%20stadnik&pos=-1&ugrp=2

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Robert-Stadnik/e/B004Q6U356/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1300323668&sr=1-2-ent

Visitors can further explore the creative world of Robert Stadnik by visiting his author's website:
http://www.robertstadnik.com/

They can follow Robert on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/rstadnik1

I hope everyone will take some time and explore Robert's creative world and learn more about Exodus of the Pheonix.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

CONVERGING TRILOGY - NEW E-BOOK PRICING


As of today, the Converging Trilogy will be available at an attractive new pricing...Initially, this pricing will be available through my e-book publisher Smashwords:

http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/georgestraatman

But in the coming weeks, this new pricing will be available on all e-platforms through their on-line stores.

Bottom line is that this darkly intense horror trilogy is now available for $6.97...Cynara's dark world has never been easier to access...(though it may not be so easy to leave!)

Friday, March 25, 2011

GUEST AUTHOR - JULIA KNIGHT - TEN RUBY TRICK

The featured author on this segment of Guest author features is UK author Julia Knight and her fantasy adventure novel: Ten Ruby Trick.

Here is the cover art for Ten Ruby Trick


Here is a brief synopsis of Julia's novel:

Privateer Van Gast thrills in capturing treasure; delights in pulling off elaborate scams; and has an outrageous reputation with the ladies. But there is only one woman for him: fellow privateer Josie—seductive, brave and unpredictable. He's hoping to make their relationship permanent, until he raids the wrong ship. Now slavers are stalking him, his crew is verging on mutiny and Josie has disappeared.
When she reappears with a new mark wanting Van Gast's help running the ten ruby trick con, he senses trouble. It seems like Josie has joined up with mage-bound slavers to turn him over to their Master. Van Gast is about to take the biggest risk of all—and find out the true meaning of trust and betrayal.

Here are a few links where you can purchase Ten Ruby Trick:
 
http://ebooks.carinapress.com/7D4743B3-2412-41E2-A0C8-4F74F34CEB76/10/134/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=B04C32CC-F086-4B28-A510-1483A254C0C5
 
and also at:
 
http://www.amazon.com/Ten-Ruby-Trick-ebook/dp/B004GB1T7W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=A7B2F8DUJ88VZ&s=digital-text&qid=1300961119&sr=1-1
 
 
Here is a link to Julia Knight's author website:
 
http://juliaknight.co.uk/
 
You can also follow Julia on both Twitter and Facebook:
 
Twitter: @Knight_Julia
 
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=messages&tid=1334603663251#!/profile.php?id=1768649138
 
I hope visitors will take a few moments and visit Julia through these sites and learn more about Ten Ruby Trick.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

UPDATED GUEST AUTHOR MASTER LIST

I initially posted a thread inviting fantasy, sci-fi and horror authors to participate in a reciprocal cross promotional concept with a mind to using my website’s author blog to spotlight some of their creative works…this offer stands and will continue to stand as I would like to see aspiring authors work together to promote each others’ works and the genres we love. Here is a list of authors I have featured on my blog since initiating this concept:
AUTHOR - GENRE - TITLE
Kriss Perras Running Waters - Sci-fi - 300 Nights



Patricia Puddle - children’s fantasy - Velvet Ball and the Broken Fairy



Jess C Scott - Fantasy - Other Side of Life



Nicki J Markus - Fantasy - Dragon’s Heart



Franz McClaren - Fantasy - Home Lost (Clarion of Destiny 1)



Tracy Falbe - Fantasy - Union or Renegades (Rys 1)



Tracey Alley - Fantasy - Erich’s Plea (Witchcraft Wars)



David N. Pauly - Fantasy - Icarus Rising



Ottilie Weber - YA Sci-Fi - End of the Line



Maxwell Alexander Drake - Fantasy - Farmers and Mercenaries



Danielle D Smith - (erotic) Horror - Black Dog and Rebel Rose



Charlie Courtland - Horror - The Secret of a Spicy Jalapeno



Franz s Mcclaren - Fantasy - Into the Demon Realm (Clarion of Destiny 5)



I have a group of others in the que and ready to be posted. Again, I invite other authors to participate…while reciprocal posting is the concept and is preferred, it is not strictly necessary…just submit a cover jpeg, synopsis and purchase and or contact links to geolouicewind@yahoo.ca and I will post your submission of my blog at www.georgestraatman.com. I believe we can all benefit by fostering a co-operative environment of promoting our works and the genres we love to work in.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

GUEST AUTHOR - FRANZ McCLAREN - INTO THE DEMON REALM

The next featured guest author is actually the first author to be featured twice on my blog...he is fellow Smashwords author Franz McClaren and the lastest release in his Clarion of Destiny series, entitled Into the Demon Realm.

Here is the cover art for Into the Demon Realm:


Here is a brief synopsis of Into the Demon Realm:

Clarion of Destiny is the eight volume fantasy tale of Leena, a heroine selected by destiny to combat the greatest challenge her world has ever known.

In Volume 5, Into the Demon Realm Leena is attacked by a demon intent on destroying her. In her search for answers to why she is being attacked, Leena encounters a mysterious little girl that speaks a strange language. When she finds out that the girl comes from the demon realm, and that she met Leena's family there, nothing can keep Leena from entering the demon realm to save them.

Visitors can purchase this novel (along with the other entries in the series) through his author page at the publisher's portal:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/46955

Here is the author website where you can follow and further explore Franz McClaren's creative world:

http://www.franzmclaren.com/

I hope that vistors will take a few moments to visit these sites and immerse themselves in Clarion of Destiny.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

GUEST AUTHOR - CHARLIE COURTLAND - THE SECRET OF A SPICY JALAPENO

Today's featured author is Charlie Courtland and and a novel she classifies as horror/dark drama/twisted tales...entitled: The Secret of a Spicy Jalapeno.


Here is the cover of her novel:



Here are some of the vital stats of Charlie's novel along with a brief synopsis:

The Secret of A Spicy Jalapeno


Author Charlie Courtland

Editor Robert Helle

Paperback, First, 230 pages

Published 2011 by BB Books Original Paperback Trade Co.

ISBN: 1460977157 (ISBN13: 9781460977157)
Genre: Horror/Dark drama/Twisted tales
Synopsis:
Beyond the urban sprawl of a Pacific Northwest city lurks the peculiar little town of Providence and in it, an organic farmer named Joe Parker. Joe’s lurid story, or rather this particular piece of it, begins when Sheriff Caine fashions the big idea to grow jalapenos, albeit with questionable methods. The gritty scheme is plucked from the undercurrent of the sheriff’s self-righteous mind and carried out with the help of Joe’s skill, two local agents, and a coroner. Everything is progressing as planned. That is, until Vera Cruz, a prostitute and girlfriend of a drug dealer, is delivered late one night on Joe’s doorstep. The new houseguest suddenly complicates his routine. The woman bunking on the rear porch not only threatens to upset the jalapeno operation, but also Joe’s conviction about what is rightly just and intrinsically wrong. Will Vera save Joe or lure him further into depravity?

Here are two places that you may purchase this novel in e-book form:
 
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004S2CK04/ref=cm_sw_su_dp
 
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/45981
 
The novel will soon be available in paper form so visit Charlie's author site for details of the upcoming paper release.
 
Here are some of the places that visitors can follow Charlie Courtland:
 
Twitter:  http://twitter.com/bitsyblingbooks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/charliecourtland
 
Charlie Courtland's author site: http://ccourtland.blogspot.com/
 
 
Charlie Courtland is the author of mulltiple titles and I encourage visitors to visit her on-line and delve into her creative world.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

GUEST AUTHOR - DANIELLE D. SMITH - BLACK DOG AND REBEL ROSE

The next novel in my series of Guest author showcases is Danielle D. Smith and her erotic horror novel...Black Dog and Rebel Rose.

Here is the cover art for her novel:



In addition to being a horror and fantasy author, Danielle is also a graphic artist...here is her link to that side of the creative process:

http://www.wildwyrmart.com/


Here is a brief synopsis of Black Dog and Rebel Rose:

Skriker.


A meltingly sexy hunter with rock star style. An insatiable seducer and lover of women. Son of a human lady of the night and a True Native of Hell, he is a killer of the evils that dwell in darkness. Fifty miles of bad road will lead him and his rumbling Harley to an abandoned town and the vampyre hunt of his dreams. It is in the rot and the ruin that Skriker will discover his destiny.

Rose.

A fierce and beautiful huntress haunted by a tragic past. The most amazing woman that Skriker has ever met. A sizzling tryst will lead him to discover that Rose is his soul mate, the girl who will make him abandon his lustful ways and make him hunger for her alone. But Skriker's new beloved harbors an ironic secret. A secret that may lead to a half-demon's gruesome undoing...

Her novel can be purchased at the following location:
 
http://www.goodreads.com/work/compare_prices/14456470?book=9569670
 
 
You can explore her works further through her author site:
 
http://www.danielledsmith.com/
 
 
I hope that visitors will take a moment to follow the links and explore the world of Black Dog and Rebel Rose:

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

JOURNEY THROUGH THE LAND OF SHADES - A PRIMER

Over the last month or so, I’ve devoted a good amount of virtual space to my concept of helping promote fellow aspiring authors from around the world by featuring their creative works on my blog…In the meantime, I’ve being working steadily and inexorably towards the publication of the first novel of my fantasy series, entitled Journey through the Land of Shades. I fervently believe that promoting a culture of reciprocal cross promotion amongst authors can only benefit the genres involved, but still, I can’t lose sight of the primary reason this site exists; to showcase my own creative vision and the artistic products this vision that it spawns. To that end, I will divide my time between my feature author segments and my new pre-release project: A Journey through the Land of Shades Primer.


The initial pass of this first novel was written in 1992 and it was a rather crude first casting into the unbound creative waters of the fantasy genre and though unpolished and lacking the elegance befitting the fantasy genre, the concept struck me as fundamentally sound and so I invested thousands of hours into the process of evolving the story structure to the point where if feel comfortable should it sit next to a Steven Erikson or Robert Jordan novel on any virtual bookshelf. Islena Doraux’s tale has now reached the culmination of that evolution and I am now pleased that I will be offering the best version of the story that my creative abilities will allow.

The novel is written and my part, from the creative standpoint is complete. I must now patiently await the completion of the cover art, the graphic and map elements and a website overhaul.

To occupy my time in the interim, I’ve decided to develop a primer that will provide readers and fans with a deeper insight into the Antiquated World that will play host to Islena Doraux’s Journey through the Land of Shades. It is a rich world, populated by a plethora of complex characters whose motivations and agendas are often concealed behind veils of deception and subtlety. A world that is characterized by mystery and confusion, the Antiquated World is fraught with mystery and mythos…much of which is only obliquely revealed in the opening novel of the cycle. The Primer will set the stage for this epic work of high fantasy and I look forward to disclosing the Antiquated World’s secrets…in small increments of course.

For now, I can fetch a sigh of relief, content in the knowledge that I have set the first stone in Islena’s road and the belief that my effort will do justice to the genre that I so deeply love.

Monday, March 14, 2011

GUEST AUTHOR - MAXWELL ALEXANDER DRAKE - FARMERS & MERCENARIES

This segment's featured author is Maxwell Alexander Drake and Farmers and Mercenaries which is the first segment of his epic fantasy cyle - Genesis of Oblivion Saga.

Here is the cover of Farmers and Mercenaries:


Here is the synopsis for Farmers and Mercenaries:

In a sleepy farming stead, a young man, Alant Cor, is found to be one of the few Humans who can manipulate the Essence. And, not simply manipulate it. Alant has more power over this magical force than any Human in known history. Does his younger brother, Arderi Cor, possess the same ability, or something more sinister?




Clytus Rillion, the commander of a mercenary troop, embarks on a quest to cure his dying son, Sindian. Though he doubts he will survive the journey, he will pay any price to save his son’s life.
The beast, known only as Klain, born a slave and now used to entertain the masses in a bloodthirsty sport known as the Games, finds out his true value to those who own him lies with his death.
All are resigned to walk the paths fate has put them upon. Yet, is this of their own accord? Or, is an ancient and powerful race, the Elmorr’Antiens, manipulating the other inhabitants of Talic’Nauth? Change is falling upon the Plane. Some Elmorr’Antiens are making preparations to weather the storms ahead - others intend to use the coming chaos to seize power over all the races.
Follow these seemingly unrelated lives as their paths are set on a course that none can hope to survive. Readers of the Genesis of Oblivion Saga will immerse themselves in the depth of a unique world culture, the grandeur of its civilizations, and the sheer awe of more than ninety-six thousand years of history!

To read the first four chapters of this novel, follow this link:
 
http://www.genesisofoblivion.com/
 
Alexander's novel is availabe in hardcover, paperback, e-book and as an audio book...here are a few locations where you can purchase his novel:
 
paperback:
http://www.amazon.com/Farmers-Mercenaries-Genesis-Oblivion-Trade/dp/0981954847/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1299191738&sr=8-2
 
e-book:
http://www.amazon.com/Farmers-Mercenaries-Genesis-Oblivion-ebook/dp/B002TG4MR0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1299191738&sr=8-2
 
directly from his publisher:
 
http://shop.imaginedinterprises.com/
 
You can follow Alexander at: http://www.maxwellalexanderdrake.com/
 
and on Facebook and Twitter. I will feature the second novel in this cycle Mortals and Deities in the coming weeks.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

GUEST AUTHOR - OTTILIE WEBER - END OF THE LINE

Today's showcased author is Ottilie Weber and her YA novel - End of the Line

Here is the rather charming and apt cover for her novel:



Here is a brief synopsis of End of the Line:





Asteroids came crushing down at Earth at unbelievable speeds, killing off most of the world as a group of six children ranging from six to seventeen stick together to survive lead by Lauren and Aaron. Even though the two didn’t know each other at school they stay together to find food, shelter, and cover from Dean Manson, a free man from prison who seeks revenge on Aaron. As the two try to stay alive, and hide from this powerful man, many things come their way, starvation, illness and even falling in love with each other as the two try their best to deny it. It is when Dean Manson finally figures out how to get back at Aaron is their emotions finally clear...



This novel can be purchased through the following link:

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/40242


And it can also be purchased through Borders, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.


You can follow Ottilie Weber through the following links:



Her Blog: http://ottilieweber.blogspot.com/

Facebook: Ottilie Weber

Twitter: Ottilie Weber


Publisher’s site: http://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.aspx?bookid=58421


I hope everyone takes a moment to visit the various links and explore Ottilie’s creative world.

Monday, March 7, 2011

GUEST AUTHOR - DAVID N. PAULY - ICARUS RISING

Fantasy is experiencing a groundswell of admirers and artists working under its compelling umbrella...their growing voice has made fantasy one of the most popular genres in literature today.

today's featured author is David N. Pauly and his novel entitled: Icarus Rising

Here is the cover of Icarus Rising:




 


Here is a synopsis of the first novel of his series:

In Nostraterra, the wars between the allied races of Elves, Men and Dwarves have ended; the Dark Lord Magnar has been overthrown. The Great Peace is suddenly shattered when Alfrahil, Crown Prince of Eldora is nearly assassinated. The King suspects his younger son Daerahil's lust for the throne has taken a dark and deadly turn, ignoring all evidence to the contrary. Is Daerahil the architect of this terrible plot or is he an unwitting pawn on someone else's chessboard?


In the forests of the Elves, it is whispered that Elven Prince Ferox plans to seize the lands of Nostraterra for himself. Aiding Daerahil and his allies, Ferox hopes to fuel a conflagration which will consume Eldora, leaving the lands of Nostraterra his for the taking.

Meanwhile, the Dwarves are wracked by deep divisions as the Flame Priests vie for supremacy, desiring to usurp all Dwarven power into their religion of segregation and hatred for other races. Secular Dwarf lords fight against the growing powers of the priests, trying to hold their kingdoms intact; preventing war from breaking out anew.

In their distant refuge of Platonia, several pacifist Gracies are called from their pastoral home, embarking upon a great journey to aid the Magi, Oracle to the races. Transporting the last survivors of an ancient sentient race to the Magi's Emerald Vale, the Gracies are waylaid by craven foes who seek the magic of these last ephemeral beings. Will they succeed, or will the magic of life itself be forever lost?

Who wants to tear the world asunder, feasting upon the ruins of the kingdom of Men? Will the world descend into chaos, or will it be saved from the ambitious and craven who threaten all? The answers lie within which begins your journey through the magical lands of Nostraterra.




David had provided an excerpt from Icarus Rising:

http://www.davidpauly.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Icarus-Excerpt.pdf


You can visit David at his website:

Here are some of the locations through which you can purchase this novel:

http://www.amazon.com/Icarus-Rising-David-N-Pauly/dp/1935605992/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298757640&sr=8-1


http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Icarus-Rising/David-N-Pauly/e/9781935605997/?itm=3&USRI=icarus+rising

http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781935605997

You can follow David's tweets at davidnpauly or on facebook at David Pauly.

I wish David all the best with Icarus Rising and encourage Fantasy fans to take a moment to explore his creation.

Friday, March 4, 2011

GUEST AUTHOR MASTER LIST

I initially posted a thread inviting fantasy, sci-fi and horror authors to participate in a reciprocal cross promotional concept with a mind to using my website’s author blog to spotlight some of their creative works…this offer stands and will continue to stand as I would like to see aspiring authors work together to promote each others’ works and the genres we love. Here is a list of authors I have featured on my blog since initiating this concept:




AUTHOR GENRE TITLE



Kriss Perras Running Waters   -   Sci-fi   -   300 Nights



Patricia Puddle    -   children’s fantasy   -   Velvet Ball and the Broken Fairy



Jess C Scott   -    Fantasy   -    Other Side of Life



Nicki J Markus   -    Fantasy   -    Dragon’s Heart



Franz McClaren   -    Fantasy   -    Home Lost (Clarion of Destiny 1)



Tracy Falbe   -    Fantasy   -    Union or Renegades (Rys 1)



Tracey Alley   - Fantasy   - Erich’s Plea (Witchcraft Wars)


David N. Pauly   -   Fantasy   -   Icarus Rising


Ottilie Weber   -   YA Sci-Fi   -   End of The Line



I have a group of others in the que and ready to be posted. Again, I invite other authors to participate…while reciprocal posting is the concept and is preferred, it is not strictly necessary…just submit a cover jpeg, synopsis and purchase and or contact links to geolouicewind@yahoo.ca and I will post your submission of my blog at www.georgestraatman.com. I believe we can all benefit by fostering a co-operative environment of promoting our works and the genres we love to work in.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

300 NIGHTS Q & A WITH AUTHOR KRISS PERRAS RUNNING WATERS

While people love to read with a passion, there are times when the process behind the story is forgotten. creativity by its very nature is not easily defined and the process varies greatly from artist to artist. When I review 300 Nights, I asked Kriss if she would agree to do and question and answer segment. She graciously complied and I submitted a series of questions that I hoped would provide some insight into her creative mechanics as she approached book one of her trilogy.

Q&A






1. Describe the approach you’ve taken to the narrative style employed in this novel. Do you have a natural preference for a minimalist narrative approach over a more expansive style?



I’m exploring everyday the idea of whether or not I’m a minimalist. I think I tend to lean that way, but try to keep the arrow on the classical structure while doing so. I attended a Robert McKee seminar last year, a life changing event for me as a writer. It was there I delved further into what is accessible to the average reader. He talked at great length and depth about how a writer needs to stay in the classical style so the work is open to everyone. He also talked about adding an individual angle to that classical style, as in leaning towards minimalism or anti-structure. That seminar was the event for this trilogy. Many of the development problems I faced as a first time novelist were corrected just by one three day intense training session at McKee’s Story seminar. That is how I went back and made sure my writing leaned one way and at the same time kept to a classical style. I used that approach with everything, my journalism, my novels, screenplays, all of my writing now incorporates the lessons learned in his seminar.



2. In the opening and closing segments of the novel, you’ve employed a very lyrical style of narrative…is this a tool you will employ more frequently in future volumes of the series?



Yes. That’s something I’ve been exploring at great length for the 300 Nights triology, a poetic or prose prologue and epilogue that employs imagery the way the Greek plays did, the mythic idea that Chris Vogler talks about in the Mythic Journey. He is another big influence for me. I interviewed him about his book that so many have read, and he is another writiing guru whom I read when I first entered the entertainment industry. His book was one of my first purchases. So the prologue and epilogue came out of the ideas I learned from his understanding of writing.



3. There is a deep sense of cynicism woven into the segments of the story that deals with the Mount Windward facility…imparting the sense that life there is rather seedy and joyless. Could you speak to the issue of technological evolution on the essential humanity of modern society? Is this atmosphere indicative of your perception of this impact?



Yes. I do not necessarily think technology is a good influence on society. People can hide behind a Web page and make derisive statements they would not otherwise make in a physical social atmosphere. The Web allows a certain sense of anonymity that leads to negativity. While I’m not a Luddite, like one of my good friends, his ideas about technology have certainly woven their way into my understandings and feelings of technological progress. At the same time, technology allows the world to become very small and empowers an entire generation of oppressed people like we saw in Egypt. Technology is a double-edged sword, cutting both good and bad into society.



4. When lightwalkers enter the virtual environment, there is a danger that they will become fused to the virtual grid if they spend too much time in the virtual environment, though for many this compulsion is difficult to resist. Is this scenario a metaphor for your perception of social networking and the addictive nature of on-line living…a sense we are in danger of eschewing our actual lives in favor of an on-line existence?



I did not intend to write the story from such a perspective, but that subconscious idea did enter the work. There was a sense during the writing of this novel that not only technology, but the power it wields over the masses, and how dangerous that power is to our freedoms, can influence societal thinking. The idea of face recognition, and how unpopular it is here in the States but very accepted in London, and the differing views on GPS’ing someone, even we as a society do it to each other with apps to find where our friends are, can be cool and a positive thing, but often it leads to a negative behavior in our world. It is OK to spy on someone with your phone or computer now, whereas say 20-years ago, that idea would have right off been thought of negatively. Technology has changed society in many ways.





5. During one particularly compelling segment, the heads of state discuss the potential benefits of genetic culling on the pathway to a better society. Do you see this as another of the potential dangers of rampant technology?



Yes, there was a time when eugenics was known to be a dangerous idea. To cull, as you put it so eloquently, the traits out of genes that a few pick to be positive while leaving out other traits we as humans have lived with for millions of years, seems destructive to our race. Entering in engineered unknowns into our existence puts us as a human race on a slippery slope, from my perspective. Plato’s idea of gold and tin souls, to me, leads down a pathway that is rife with who should decide what is a desirable trait and what is negative: is it color of skin, talents, artistic versus physical prowess, intelligence and what is intelligence, who and what should decide those factors of what is considered a worthy trait to pass on to the next generation of Homo sapiens?





6. As a bit of a spoiler perhaps, but how much evolution can we expect in the next story in terms of the back history of the underground world and the various components that it is built upon?



The next book went through a huge development process that spans a number of years. The idea itself was so compelling and could lead down so many paths, that book is where I was led by my mentor into the upper crust of story, as he calls it. I learned how the execution of an idea can make or break a story beyond imagination. The early draft of the book was originally two books, Fard Ayn and Exile, that later were compiled into one book and titled Exile. The back story of the character’s lives comes rearing into their existence without their knowledge at first, then it slowly peels away as to who they are, where they came from, and who decided who they should be. The line between the world of the lightwalker and the underground world above them is blurred, thus drawing the story into a very deep and perilous existence. This for me is the very best book of the entire trilogy to date. Halo was written before any of the other books. My mentor went back with me step by step into the back story of the characters and where we should begin this tale. His instinct and story knowledge are so great, it was easy to follow his vision of the story, because it fit so well with my own. He taught me about the seeds of the story, and how sticking with that original seed is where the upper crust of the story takes place.



7. Finally, can you describe the main thematic elements of 300 Nights? Is there any specific message or insight that you would like to see readers take away from this story?



The first thing that came into my mind when I read that question was my minimalist thinking, that I don’t want to imprint anything onto the reader. I’d like to see the reader take away their own experience from the story. Everybody brings their own lives into a fictional tale, which is where we find catharsis from everyday stress. There are some obvious thematic values at play like technology’s power, the slippery slope of genetically engineering a human being and the war for hearts and minds through nationalism, but beyond that, I dare not tell the reader what to think. It is their experience, and each one will be different.

GUEST AUTHOR - TRACEY ALLEY - ERICH'S PLEA VOLUME ONE OF WITCHCRAFT WARS

The novel featured on today's blog is Tracey L. Alley's fantasy novel, entitled Erich's Plea which is book one of her Witchcraft Wars cycle.

Here is the cover of Erich's Plea


Here is a detailed synopsis of the first novel:

SYNOPSIS


“Erich’s Plea” – Book One of The Witchcraft Wars

By

Tracey L. Alley



A thousand years ago the Great War tore through the land of Kaynos, shattering the mighty Empires and leaving the scattered Kingdoms in its wake. Now after centuries of peace the ambitions of a dark elven sorceress armed with a new, deadly form of magic called witchcraft threaten to plunge Kaynos into a war more devastating than anything seen before.



Meanwhile, falsely imprisoned in Ostland’s infamous Zeaburg prison the young druid Slade, heir to the throne of Vestland, is haunted by a strange, recurring dream in which his father, High King Erich pleads for his help. Although the dream defies all known laws of magic or logic Slade is nonetheless convinced of the dreams truth and determines to somehow achieve the impossible and escape the torture chambers of Zeaburg to save his beloved father.


Standing beside Slade in his bid for freedom are fellow prisoners, the bizarre, nightmarish half ogre, half troll Trunk, royal bodyguard Wulfstan, the amnesiac wizard Roulibard, and Nikolai the necromancer of Bhaal. They are soon joined by Tares, minotaur priest of Ilmater, Lara the halfling former assassin, and Darzan the beautiful, predatory pirate who have broken into the prison on a quest of their own.



Struggling to follow the dream’s cryptic clues Slade soon realises that in order to save King Erich he must somehow discover the true motivations of the witch Shallendara and stop her before she plunges The Kingdoms into a hellish war of conquest. A task that may prove even more impossible than escaping the subterranean prison given that his companions neither like nor trust each other and there’s a spy in their midst.



The boundaries of good and evil are blurred as traditional enemies work side by side to combat the greatest threat The Kingdoms have ever seen. Will the power of an unimaginable alliance, an unlikely friendship and a forbidden love be enough to save a world?

Tracey's novels are available through Amazon, Smashwords or in paper format through her website.

Here is a link to her website:

http://traceyalley.weebly.com/

You can find Tracey on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tracey-Alley-The-World-of-Kaynos/127959000550782


As always, I hope that everyone will take the opportunity to explore her site and delve into the fantasy world she's created.