Tag: Epic Fantasy

Jane Austen’s Dragon

by eileentroemel, posted in Book Tour
Audiobook Series Tour: Jane Austen’s Dragons by Maria Grace

Author: Maria Grace

Narrator: Benjamin Fife

Length: 8 hours 11 minutes

Series: Jane Austen’s Dragons, Book 1

Publisher: Maria Grace

Released: July 2, 2019

Genre: Epic Fantasy

England is overrun by dragons of all shapes and sizes. Most people are blissfully unaware of them and the Pendragon Treaty that keeps the peace between human and dragon kind. Only those born with preternatural hearing, like Fitzwilliam Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet are able to hear and converse with dragonkind. When the first firedrake egg laid in a century is stolen from Pemberley, the fragile dragon peace teeters on collapse. Darcy has no choice but to chase down the thief, a journey that leads him to quaint market town of Meryton and fellow Dragon Keeper, Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth shares a unique bond with dragons, stronger than anything Darcy has ever experienced. More than that, her vast experience and knowledge of dragon lore may be the key to uncovering the lost egg. But Elizabeth can’t stand Darcy’s arrogance and doesn’t trust him to care properly for a precious baby firedrake. After all, he already lost the egg once. What’s to prevent it from happening again? Can he win her trust and recover the stolen egg before it hatches and sends England spiraling back into the Dark Ages of Dragon War? Jane Austen meets Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern. A must-listen for Pern fans.
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Five time BRAG Medallion Honoree and #1 best selling Historical Fantasy author, Maria Grace has her PhD in Educational Psychology and is a 16-year veteran of the university classroom where she taught courses in human growth and development, learning, test development and counseling. None of which have anything to do with her undergraduate studies in economics/sociology/managerial studies/behavior sciences. She pretends to be a mild-mannered writer/cat-lady, but most of her vacations require helmets and waivers or historical costumes, usually not at the same time. She writes gaslamp fantasy, historical romance and non-fiction to help justify her research addiction.
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Narrator Bio
Benjamin Fife has always had a passion for learning. With a mind that remembers all sorts of numbers and useless trivia, he regularly wins local radio shows and enjoys confusing people with sci-fi quotes. Fife grew up in Southeast Idaho. He attended college at Idaho State University, where he met his future wife in their music theory class. They have been married nearly 20 years and now have six children and a whole menagerie of animals. When their oldest daughter was three or four years old they started reading aloud from novels every night at bedtime, and have continued the tradition ever since. The family loves exploring various worlds and topics through Fife’s wonderful reading skills, which get better every year. They all have his Christmas Carol voices memorized (and the older kids are known to quote along with portions), since he has read it to them every December. Benjamin enjoys all kinds of sci-fi and fantasy – both books and shows, is an extreme eclectic music lover, and prefers his chocolate to be of the 90% cocoa variety. Above all, he loves to be with his family. He loves recording audio books, and is delighted to tell people, “I’ve finally found what I want to be when I grow up!”
Website
  I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Benjamin Fife. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
Q&A with Author Maria Grace
  • Do you believe certain types of writing translate better into audiobook format?
    • I’ve had narrators doing both non-fiction and fiction books for me and it has all worked. I believe that if it reads well—it’s engaging and interesting and hard to put down—then it will also listen well. But narrating excellent audiobooks is a really skill than not every narrator has.
  • Was a possible audiobook recording something you were conscious of while writing?
    • I thought a little about the possibility of doing audiobooks with the dragon series, but I was honestly so caught up in the complexities of creating the world that I didn’t really process he whole audiobook potential until much later.
  • Were there any real life inspirations behind your writing?
    • Definitely, though I will absolutely not be naming any names! I will say this difficult people are far more likely to wind their way into my stories than easy-going, delightful ones. Large, old, dragons to be rather cranky. Apparently I know a lot of real life dragons if you now what I mean. LOL
  • What do you say to those who view listening to audiobooks as “cheating” or as inferior to “real reading”?
    • Being a research nerd and a college prof for 16 years, I’d point to the research that says audiobooks tap the same parts of the brain as reading does. That’s pretty good evidence to suggest that there’s no cheating involved in audiobooks!
  • How did you celebrate after finishing this novel?
    • By starting the next one. This particular story required a three book arc to tie up all the plot points (though each book had a definite plot of its own). So I was itching to start the next one once I’d launched the first.
  • In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of writing a stand-alone novel vs. writing a series?
    • Hands down, I prefer to write series. I love the opportunity to hang out with the characters over a long period of time and really get to know them. Series offer the chance to create far deeper and more complex worlds and stories and I just love that.
  • What’s next for you?
    • Another book in the series! Seriously, I’m half way through the fifth book right now and hoping to have it done in March! If you’d like to keep up with news about it you can find me on RandomBitsofFascination.com.
Top 10 List
Narrator Benjamin Fife’s ‘Top 10 Reason to be A Narrator’
  1. Sometimes I get information before the general public
  2. I become intimately familiar with each book I narrate, going through it no less than 3 times total in a relatively short period of time.
  3. Ego. I love hearing that people love my work. The Positive reviews have far outstripped the negative & I’m able to learn from the negative, improve & run with it.
  4. Last year I read probably twice as much as any other single year of my life because I was narrating all the time. I get paid to read books! How cool is that?
  5. Catharsis. Not with every book, but many of the books I’ve performed have had some pretty emotional chapters that in performing them, I feel amazing after having done so. Kind of something I’ve discovered as I’ve gone that’s an extra bonus.
  6. I only have to do what I want. If a project doesn’t appeal to me in some way, I don’t audition for it.
  7. Happier than I’ve ever been.
  8. Flexible work schedule.
  9. I get to be in on the creative process with some truly brilliant people.
  10. Vicarious Adventures. I’ve yet to be outside of North America. Like book lovers since the world began, I experience so much through the worlds created from the minds of those truly brilliant people I’m able to work with.
Giveaway
Prize: Custom Statue of the Dragon ‘Pemberly’
Jane Austen’s Dragons Giveaway: Custom Statue of the Dragon ‘Pemberly’ https://widget.gleamjs.io/e.js
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Thorn of the Night Blossoms

by eileentroemel, posted in Book Tour
Thorn of the Night Blossoms
Scions of the Black Lotus Book 1
by JC Kang
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Thorn of the Night Blossoms is the start of a complete, 6-book series.
For an imperial assassin, assignment as a courtesan in the Floating World seems like a waste of her talents… until killers target her clan sisters.
In the legendary Floating World, wars are waged with wit, the strongest soldier can be bound with threads of silk, and flesh is the currency by which life, death, and freedom can all be purchased.
Half-elf Jie doesn’t mind her temporary assignment as a Night Blossom in the most sought-after house. It’s perfect cover for her real work as an assassin in the emperor’s service, and keeps her close to one who matters most. Her life belongs to her clan, but her heart lies with clan junior, Lilian.
Lilian’s talents trade stealth for sensuality, poison for poetry. With looks as sharp as any blade, she can coax information from any man, and still leave him paying for the pleasure. She’s enthralled many a noble, none more important than the warlord who can calm a brewing insurrection. Only her sweet whispers can secure his obedience to the throne.
But now, his increasing abuse has Jie seeking a new assignment for Lilian—even if it means their separation. When killers target clan sisters, and the seeds of rebellion find fertile soil in the Floating World, Jie must choose between loyalty and love.
**Get it FREE 1/22-1/26!! Only .99 cents after that!**
Lunar New Year Sale!
In celebration of Chinese New Year, JC Kang is offering all of his single books for 99c/p in the US/UK from 1/22-28. In addition, Thorn of the Night Blossoms is FREE 1/22-26!
JC Kang’s unhealthy obsession with Fantasy and Sci-Fi began at an early age when his brother introduced him to The Chronicles of Narnia, Star Trek, and Star Wars. As an adult, he combines his geek roots with his professional experiences as a Chinese Medicine doctor, martial arts instructor, and technical writer to pen epic fantasy stories.
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Stella of Akrotiri

by eileentroemel, posted in Book Tour
Stella of Akrotiri: Diana
An Ancient Greek Tale of Immortals Book 3
by Linda Rae Sande
Genre: Epic Fantasy, Romance
Publisher: Twisted Teacup Publishing
Publication Date: December 25, 2019
Born an orphan, raised as a warrior princess, desired by men. Can an Immortal claim her heart?
The first adopted daughter of Stella and Darius, Diana has been raised as if she were one of the fabled Amazon princesses. Her mornings are spent training with Darius at the agōgē, her skills as a warrior matched only by a few of the Deminon army recruits. Her afternoons are spent with Stella as she learns the art of diplomacy and the importance of service to others.
Never does Diana wonder why her parents are so devoted to one another, or why they seem to speak of the past as if they lived in it.
The curious stares aimed in her direction by the agōgē’s doctor, Antony—even when she’s not in the circle of battle—has Diana on edge. Learning she has a much older adopted brother—one who seems to youthen as he ages—has her questioning her origins.
So the arrival of Augustus of Assyria seems fortuitous. Her father’s oldest friend is welcomed with open arms even as he is followed by a threat to the future of Deminon. With his intimate knowledge of her parents, perhaps he’ll have the answers Diana seeks. Or will the Roman senator’s revelation about her only complicate matters? For his attentions are far more intense than those of Antony—and far more arousing.
Stella of Akrotiri: Deminon
An Ancient Greek Tale of Immortals Book 2
Publication Date: December 25, 2018
Love can last a thousand lifetimes when you’re an Immortal… or so they thought.
What’s become of the Immortal Darius? His wife, Stella, worries about his fate as she rules over their city-state of Deminon, especially when she learns he’s been the victim of treachery. She’ll do anything to get him back.
Enslaved as a traitor to Rome, Darius is forced to fight gladiators as part of the funeral rites of powerful Romans. His years of experience on the battlefield serve him well in the arena—until he’s forced to fight Marcus—a younger, stronger gladiator who is unaware of his own immortality.
Sure he’s about to suffer a defeat by the hand of Marcus, Darius is forced to make a decision that will change his future and Stella’s—preserve his essence by allowing his body to die so that he can live on in Marcus. His two-thousand years of memories and life experiences should be powerful enough to overcome the essence of the untested Immortal. Allow him to return to Stella and resume their life together, even if she won’t immediately recognize him.
But Marcus isn’t giving up so easily. Especially when he meets Stella.
Will Marcus help Darius take revenge on the one whose deceit led to his arrest on charges of treason? Or will Darius’ essence slowly be subsumed, the memories of his nearly two-thousand-year lifespan—and of Stella—fading away in the mind of Marcus?
These Immortals once had all the time in the world. Now it’s suddenly of the essence.
Stella of Akrotiri: Origins
An Ancient Greek Tale of Immortals Book 1
Publication Date: June 28, 2019
Immortality can be a lonely existence, especially when the world is about to implode.
For over six hundred years, Darius of Agremon has fought wars on behalf of those who needed his skills in combat. As a lechagos on Strongili, he spends his days commanding the Minoan coastguardsmen against pirates and marauders. His nights are spent alone, for despite having had wives in the past, he has watched them all grow old and die, childless, as he continues to live.
So when he senses immortality in an olive farmer’s young daughter, Darius bargains to take her to wife when she is old enough to marry.
A foundling, Stella works in her adoptive father’s orchard above Akrotiri, climbing the ancient trees to prune and to harvest the strings of pearls from their branches. She fears invaders when she watches flaming arrows arc in the sky, a sign the island is under attack. She worries about how the ground quakes beneath her feet and steam erupts from cracks in the ground. She wonders at the odd tingling she experiences whenever Darius of Agremon is near, a sensation not unlike the one she feels when spending time in the oldest trees.
Unaware of the arrangement her father has made with the lechagos, Stella thinks she has been sold into slavery when Darius comes for her. Her youth has been spent admiring the man who helped her father’s business thrive. Now she has only contempt for him and his hard-headed manner, despite the pleasures he incites whenever he claims her body.
While the earth trembles and a volcano threatens to destroy the island of Strongili, these two will have to forge a relationship that will last far longer than a lifetime—one that must endure an eternity and the disaster that’s about to wipe out the only home Stella has ever known.
A self-described nerd and lover of science, Linda Rae spent many years as a published technical writer specializing in 3D graphics workstations, software and 3D animation (her movie credits include SHREK and SHREK 2). An interest in genealogy led to years of research on the Regency era and a desire to write fiction based in that time.
A fan of action-adventure movies, she can frequently be found at the local cinema. Although she no longer has any fish, she follows the San Jose Sharks. She is a member of Novelists, Inc. (NINC) and makes her home in Cody, Wyoming.
$25 Amazon gift card
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The Paladin Princess Series

by eileentroemel, posted in Book Tour
The Pirates of Moonlit Bay
The Paladin Princess Book 1
by Samaire Provost
Genre: Epic Fantasy
They took her freedom: now it’s personal.
They assaulted her best friend.
They stole her dignity and enslaved her, stripped her of everything she loved, and ground her into the dirt.
Now it’s sweet payback time.
Jack Ryan meets The Princess Bride in this epic fantasy thriller.
They think they know her; they think they can best her.
They have no idea what they’ve unleashed.
She’s going to teach them a lesson they will never forget.
The first in the addictive, action-packed Paladin Princess series, The Pirates of Moonlit Bay features never-see-it-coming twists and razor-sharp dialogue.
Charlotte has never been one to play by the rules. When kidnapped by pirates on a ship pulled by giant manta rays, she is fearless in facing her deadly adversaries. She must fight for her life against ruthless enemies and fantastic beasts, while being thrust into a world of supernatural alchemy.
Move over Hunger Games and Game of Thrones, there’s a new epic fantasy thriller in town and it’s non-stop, pulse-pounding action!
“The amazing, can’t-put-it-down fantasy thriller readers have been raving about.
Gripping & action-packed, it will swallow you whole.”
“If you love to root for the underdog and have a craving for high paced action,
then this book is for you!!”
Don’t miss this electrifying supernatural fantasy thriller!
GET IT NOW!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP6HvhiVitU?feature=player_embedded]
The Pirate Queen
The Paladin Princess Book 2
The Book of Mysteries.
According to legend, it holds the lost knowledge of all mankind.
Charlotte wants it. Badly.
She has her trusty troupe, a treasure map, and a worthy ship. But will that be enough?
The map can’t even begin to hint at what awaits them as they descend a rocky staircase into the heart of a volcano …
Friendships will be tested.
Lives will be on the line.
They will face challenges even more deadly than the dreaded kraken.
And they will face questions. Questions that go to the heart of their mission – and the core of their souls …
What do you believe?
Who do you care about most?
Are you worthy?
Worthy to obtain the Book of Mysteries. Within its pages lie the secrets to navigating the stars and curing deadly diseases.
But can they retrieve it before they wind up dead themselves?
Find out in the exciting sequel to The Pirates of Moonlit Bay, Book 2 of The Paladin Princess series.
The Lost Treasure
The Paladin Princess Book 3
Decaying corpses of powerful sirens float in the sea, forming a grisly trail toward the horror that killed them.
Mermaids whisper about a new threat in the ocean, a menace that imperils all the denizens of the waters, from Swerighe, to Alkebulan, to all the undiscovered seas.
Charlotte and her troupe, searching for clues, hear whispers of a secret treasure that might be connected to the siren deaths. An aged merman who has traveled farther than any other, reveals to them the tale of a strange, strange land:
“There is a faraway land, full of steep mountains, and dangerous creatures. The forest surrounding the tallest mountain is home to a multitude of dread monsters, each more terrifying than the last, who hunger for the flesh of unsuspecting travelers foolish enough to venture into their realm. At the apex of this tall peak, which rises twenty thousand feet, past deadly glaciers and a river of fire, is a sanctuary watched over by a forgotten order of mystics skilled in the art of battle and devastation. In the rear of the sanctuary is a passage that leads into the mountain, and deep into the heart of the Earth. At its end are catacombs guarded by a beast so dreadful that minds will go mad at the sight of it. The door to the catacombs can only be accessed by defeating the beast that guards it. Inside, concealed by a hideous shroud and an ancient poison, lies the lost treasure of El Dorado.”
The Pirate Prince
The Paladin Princess Book 4
The land is dying.
Great swaths of the northlands are growing warmer at an alarming rate.
Wildlife is suffering.
Monsters from the realm of fable and legend are being released from the glaciers, attacking villages.
And something – SOMETHING has caused this.
A great evil has emerged from the ice and lain this curse upon the land.
Charlotte’s parents – the queen and prince consort of Swerighe – have been abducted, and the land is in an uproar. Only Charlotte and her troupe can save the day.
But this evil is desperate to survive.
It will stop at nothing to take what it wants.
And it wants her baby.
Samaire Provost grew up in a lot of different places, and now happily resides on the East Coast of America, laboring away at writing stories every day. She is an animal lover with far too many pets, yet she still muses how she’d like to add even more. A lover of all things night and gothic, she also loves to read and reread her favorite books. Owned by a cat named Tyrion, she can be found haunting the shadows and mists that hang low over the hills of southern Virginia.
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Fall of the Western Kings

by eileentroemel, posted in Book Tour
Fall of the Western Kings
Tirumfall Trilogy Book 1
by J Drew Brumbaugh
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Gant is a commoner, forbidden from learning swordsmanship. He trains in spite of the law and ends up branded an outlaw. However fate intervenes while Gant is on the run and soon he is embroiled in an odyssey with forces of darkness that can only be vanquished with help from his friends, not all of whom are human. An epic that delivers the best in the tradition of classic fantasy.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR7a1MKfHnY?feature=player_embedded]
Child of Evil
Tirumfall Trilogy Book 2
The story started with “Fall of the Western Kings”. Now “Child of Evil” continues the odyssey of Gant, the hero who killed Varg with his magical sword Valorious and who must now use his strength and cunning to find and neutralize the child born of evil. This child is prophesized to lead the demons of the western kingdoms to victory over the people of the east. Other characters accompany Gant to Ferd, the city where the child will be born. Amelia is a shape-changer who flies to the west to do reconnaissance only to be captured and imprisoned. Pris, the emperor and blossoming wizard, worries about the evil forces and knows the child cannot be allowed to unite the demonic powers. His untested magic will be key to stopping the impending doom. Dalphnia, Gant’s wife, is a woodland nymph who can control the trees of the forest and is determined to see her husband come through this journey alive. Can this unlikely group intervene in time to stop the child and the carnage that is sure to follow? Will it mean killing the child? Resolving this moral dilemma while outwitting the demons and getting back to the safety of their homes makes for a rousing adventure. “Child of Evil” is the second book in J. Drew Brumbaugh’s fantasy series, The Tirumfall Triology.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPZtO5Ol1AI?feature=player_embedded]
I live in northeast Ohio where I write sci-fi, fantasy, and suspense novels, along with a few short stories. Mostly I write stories I think I’d like to read with characters that are interesting enough that readers want to find out what happens to them. I also spend time teaching and training at the karate dojo my wife and I founded, building a Japanese garden in the back yard, and taking walks in the woods with our dog. I have six novels in print, the most recent being “Bula Bridge,” a collection of short stories, and a co-authored children’s book. I continue to work on my next book and seem to always have several stories in various stages of completion.
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Horn Sworn Series

by eileentroemel, posted in Book Tour
Dark Unicorn
Horn Sworn Book 1
by Taylor Haiden & Angela Kulig
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Victoria Aveyard, Dark Unicorn is the first of the new and mysterious adult fantasy series Horn Sworn.
Princess Wrenyve knows her oath to return her Kingdom’s missing artifact, the Heart of Spellshallow, means one of the King’s children will die. Even if Wren is cunning, fast, and strong enough, there’s a good chance it will still be her.
Without the Heart, magic will flee the land faster than the night flees the day. Without the Heart, Spellshallow, and everything in it will cease to exist. As her brother’s shameful thievery is uncovered, Wren must swallow her pride and accept help from allies whom she knows she can’t trust:
– Thackery is the ambitious son of the richest and most powerful councilman—her very ex, scorned lover—and the wounds Wren caused him are still raw.
– Calen isn’t a boy at all. Trapped in human form after a hideous defeat, Calen may have lost his horn, but is still a unicorn—a self-serving, treacherous scoundrel, as dangerous to any man who crosses him as he is to the innocence of every fair maiden.
– Luckily for Wren, she was already doomed.
To find the Heart and restore the magic, to retrieve the lost horn, Wren and her unfortunate travel companions must survive three separate realms—each more deadly than the last. Unknown enemies and strange magic hinder their way, and yet the most perilous thing is what lies within their own hearts.
Cruel King
Horn Sworn Book 2
The Collector has all the magic, holds all the cards, leaving the Cruel King with nothing but blood on his hands.
For Wren, her only hope of saving her people now hinges on
the one person she can never trust.
Calen has regained his horn and all the old debts have been called in.
This time there’s more than just his horn on the line.
They escape the Collector’s clutches by fleeing to the beautiful Realm of Unicorns. But will they find a welcomed homecoming or an inescapable prison?
Can Wren and Calen kill two kings without destroying themselves and their tenuous love? Or will the lies and deceit be too much to overcome?
TAYLOR HAIDEN has three beautiful children and an amazingly supportive spouse and lives with them in Arizona. Tylor’s days are spent enjoying the breathtaking blue skies and pink sunsets while writing a variety of genres. When not writing, Taylor enjoys traveling to new places, tasting new and exciting foods, binging on Netflix, and experiencing everything that life has to offer from barbecues to scuba diving. Taylor is author of the Werewolf M.D. series with more in the works.
Angela Kulig is an American gypsy, and former pirate. She has been from sea to shining sea–and though she is currently trapped in the desert against her will, she escapes everyday in the form of many books.
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Knight Shade

by eileentroemel, posted in Book Tour
Perdition Bleeds
Knightshade Series Book 1
by John Grover
Genre: Epic Fantasy
WHAT WAS ONCE BELOW IS NOW ABOVE
King Gravynmere of Vanosia has sent some of his best soldiers to investigate strange stories in the nearby border town of Faxon.
The men will soon learn there is more truth than fancy to these stories, for something walks in the fields, something with cloven hooves and fire dripping from its hands.
The king rallies his son, Prince Quinn, his entire army and all of the Kingdom of Vanosia to confront the very forces of darkness in an epic tale of adventure, magic and mystery as the veil between their world and Perdition grows thin.
Join the Prince as he battles for his land, his people and his beloved on a mission that will take him to ends of the world and back, through pain and sacrifice, war and horror as what is below claws its way to above.
Shadow Scourge
Knightshade Series Book 2
A SISTER’S WRATH KNOWS NO BOUNDS…
The Great War with Perdition has ended but all is not well in the continent of Eurone.
Prince Quinn, half human, half shade, lives in exile at the hands of his father, King Harlequin. The King withers into depression, leaving the kingdom of Vanosia weakened and open to attack. It is now that the Shrouded Woman seeks vengeance for the death of her sister at the hands of Prince Quinn. She will stop at nothing to see the extermination of the royal family and all of Vanosia.
In this sequel to Knightshade: Perdition Bleeds, the forces of darkness
and light will once again collide in an action-packed, fantasy tale of family secrets, dark history, forgiveness and redemption. Prince Quinn is the only way to stop the dark shadow magic of the Shrouded Woman and the scourge she has unleashed upon the world. He must learn that to finally bring peace to the kingdom he will need to not only face the truth of the Shrouded Woman’s identity but the truth about his own family as well.
This is book 2 of the Knightshade Series.
It is highly recommended that you read Book 1: Perdition Bleeds before starting this book.
Coming Soon!!
Knightshade Book 3 – King Ascends
John Grover is a fiction author specializing in Horror, Fantasy and Sci-Fi residing in Massachusetts. John grew up watching creature double feature with his brother on Saturday afternoons. This fueled his love of monsters, ghosts and the supernatural. He never missed an episode. In his spare time he loves to cook, garden, go to the theater to watch horror movies with his friends, read, talk about food, bake amazing desserts, play with his dog Buffy (yes named after the character in the TV show) and draw-badly.
Some of his favorite TV shows and influences are The Twilight Zone, Tales from the Darkside, Space 1999, Battlestar Galactica, X-Files, Night Gallery, Monsters, Star Trek, and much more.
He completed a creative writing course at Boston’s Fisher College and is a member of the New England Horror Writers, a chapter of the Horror Writers Association.
Some of his more recent credits include Best New Zombie Tales Vol 1 by Books of the Dead Press, The Book of Cannibals by Living Dead Press, The Vermin Anthology, The Northern Haunts Anthology by Shroud Publishing, The Zombology Series by Library of the Living Dead Press, Morpheus Tales, Wrong World, The Willows, Alien Skin Magazine, Aurora Wolf and more.
He is the author of several collections, including the recently released Terror in Small Doses for Amazon Kindle as well as various chapbooks, anthologies, and more.
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Re-Camelot

by eileentroemel, posted in Book Tour
Re: Camelot
The Complete Edition
by E.C. Fisher
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Seventeen-year-old Arthur Godwin-Dragos finds himself much unlike his
childhood heroes who fought for the grace and honor of Camelot.
Banished to a bleak boarding school in England, Arthur cannot help
but retreat into the fantasy of his mother’s old tales.
Longing for his own destiny to assuage his loneliness and despair,
Arthur withers in exile in wait for something more.
In the stillness, however, the hands of fate begin to turn. Across the universe, far out of reach of time or space, the planet Avalon grows dim. The ancient sorceress Merlin awakes from a fevered dream–as prophecy calls out through the darkness. Sealed and forgotten, Morgana la Fey stirs in the dark, biding her time to strike against Merlin and Avalon. Once again must the legend of King Arthur awaken, and with the power of the mighty Excalibur, beat back the insufferable darkness once and for all.
E. C. Fisher is an emerging author who was born in Vandenberg, AFB, California. Currently, he happily writes and resides in Florida.
From 2007 to 2011, he proudly served in the United States Marine Corps. Three years ago he was introduced to the writing world after a bout of inspiration drove him to write his very first story. After sharing his work with several people and receiving favorable feedback, he decided to continue treading on the creative path of storytelling.
When he doesn’t have a pen in hand, you can find him at the bowling
alley getting strikes or at home reading fantastical books.
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The Tree that Grew Through Iron

by eileentroemel, posted in Book Tour

Audiobook Tour: The Tree That Grew Through Iron by McKenzie Austin

Author: McKenzie Austin

Narrator: Gerard Marquez

Length: 15 hours and 30 minutes

Series: The Panagea Tales, Book 1

Publisher: McKenzie Austin

Released: Aug. 6, 2019

Genre: Epic Fantasy

The world’s end was his beginning. Whole chunks of earth are withering away from the mainland and falling into the sea. Natural disasters are claiming thousands of lives. Prayers are no longer answered by gods. Prayers are answered by machines and the Time Fathers of Panagea. Nicholai Addihein, one of the eight ruling Time Fathers, struggles to save the lives of his people. After a single moment of misunderstood treason, he must also save his own. While running from the wrath of Panagea’s other Time Fathers, Nicholai lands in peculiar company. Can a fabled immortal, a crew of societal rejects, and a silver-haired woman with a mysterious past breathe life back into a world on the brink of death? With all of existence at stake, Nicholai and the others prepare to fight until their last breath to change the fate of Panagea. Who would ever guess that success might be just as fatal as failure?
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Like many authors, McKenzie took to writing early. She crafted numerous tales throughout childhood that served as an escape from the solitude often accompanying the inability to ‘fit in’ with the normal crowd. The award-winning author now resides with her family in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where she draws inspiration for her fantasy novels through copious amounts of craft beer and cheese.
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Narrator Bio Gerard got his start at an early age, performing with various Opera companies and teams throughout Australia. After moving to America as an adult he made the transition into musical theater, and voice-over. Gerard has worked with various Opera and Musical theater companies throughout southern California and LA. Gerard has been working as a narrator now for the last couple of years, and was incredibly honored and excited, when McKenzie Austin approached him to work on this great series.
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  I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by McKenzie Austin. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it. Guest Post
By McKenzie Austin, Author
Inspiration is a peculiar thing, isn’t it? It’s one of those fluid, intangible effects. Inspiration can be found in something as mundane as the way the leaves leap to their deaths, separating themselves from the trees that they knew and loved all season long. It can be found in the way your loved one’s cheeks embrace the bottoms of their eyes when they break into an uninhibited smile. Inspiration can be a moment. An event. A feeling. A person. While I’m thankful for all of the countless muses that motivate me daily, the biggest literary inspiration in my life has to be Neil Gaiman. I can say with absolute certainty that the man holds that title for limitless existing writers. It’s unlikely that Mr. Gaiman will see this and leap for joy at having inspired one more person in a pool of endless, undying fans, but there remains one single, profound reason why I adore that man. Being inspired is such a critical component to writing. It can often be squashed by the crushing weight of reality. Standing out amongst the almost 50 million books available on Amazon alone, a writer can’t help but feel the pressure to somehow shine brighter than the rest. How does one succeed in such a competitive atmosphere? Inspiration is only a small factor; we need to know the standard rules, as well. You all know what they are. Get a compelling cover. Secure beta readers. Build a newsletter. Lock down those social media sites. Fashion an interactive website. Professionally edit your book. Write to market. And, for the love of the gods, separate your genres by pen names. Don’t be the guy whose ‘also boughts’ on Amazon are tainted because you were too lazy to craft an alias for each one! Suddenly, that colorful inspiration is feeling a little washed out by the black and white side of the trade, isn’t it? Yes, the business side of being an author can be a brutal one to learn. I found myself drowning in the sea of that reality more times than I care to admit. That beacon of brightness, though—that lighthouse in the dark, that keeps me from crashing into the jagged coastal rocks—has, and always will be, Neil Gaiman. Nothing is untouchable to him. Dark fantasy for adults? He nails it. Quirky children’s stories? Flawless. It doesn’t matter if he’s writing horror, or comedy, or science fiction, or novels, or comics, or short stories. The guy does it all, and he does it all with his own name. I understand the importance of the rules. Yes, a good cover matters. Yes, an efficient, talented editor is so, so valuable. But once that initial, gripping moment of inspiration fades away… and is replaced by the business side of writing… things can get admittedly overwhelming. As for me? It’s nice to know that I, too, can fly far out into left field from my last project’s genre, despite the ‘rules’. There exists no greater comfort than knowing that someone else did it before, and instead of falling flat on his face, he ended up soaring. Top 10 List
McKenzie Austin’s Top 10 Songs that Inspired Her Work
  Music is incredibly inspiring. I’ve listened to my fair share of tunes while writing The Tree That Grew Through Iron (actually, the whole of The Panagea Tales series, really) and there are certainly a few that stand out as having been played on ‘repeat’ during several scenes.
  1. Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise by The Avett Brothers – This is/was the very mantra of Nicholai Addihein. Throughout the series, he’s surrounded by this looming ‘darkness’, and it takes many different forms depending on which book you’re on, but he always holds fast to this (often times idealistic) dream that he can make things better for everyone. He wants so badly to do what’s ‘right’, but must come to the realization that what’s right for some will never be what’s right for all. This song is actually what inspired the title for the final book in the series (The Canary That Sang to the World).
  2. The Sound of Silence by Disturbed – This particular song resonated more with book two in the series (The Gods Who Harvested Men) but the message still applies to The Tree That Grew Through Iron. ‘Silence like a cancer grows’ is, perhaps, the strongest line. Things deteriorate as far as they do because we’re often too scared to speak up and change the circumstances. Nicholai is so desperate to help everyone, to ‘reach them’, but the outcome of his efforts often fail to yield the results he hopes for. The most admirable thing is that he keeps trying, regardless of how often he fails.
  3. Pompeii by Bastille – This song encapsulates the entirety of the series, but touches The Tree That Grew Through Iron in a far more literal way. Everything around the primary cast is changing. The physical landscape of Panagea, their mental endurance to continue fighting for a revolution, their emotional reactions to their circumstances… but through everything, through all of the shifts and challenges and obstacles, at the heart of it all, one thing hasn’t changed at all. Camaraderie runs deep, and is a critical component of their interactions with one another.
  4. Leave a Light On by Tom Walker – I know these are supposed to be about The Tree That Grew Through Iron, but I can’t help falling back to songs that remind me of the series in its entirety. In book three (The Serpent That Swallowed Its Tail) this song really resonated with me, as several of our characters let their obsessions consume them in a rather unfortunate way. There’s always that one rock for the individual who is slipping though… the one who will ‘leave a light on’ for he or she who is lost in the dark.
  5. Lost by Coldplay – This one reminds me of Nicholai in particular, but certainly fits the bill of the crew, as well. “Just because I’m losing doesn’t mean I’m lost.” And poor Nicholai, he loses. Quite a bit. His good intentions often blow up in his face, but he gets right back up and tries again.
  6. Radioactive by Imagine Dragons – This song paints a picture of Panagea to me. “Waking up to ash and dust” couldn’t possibly be a better fit to the world our characters are living in. The vibe captures the raw spirit of desire for a change, too. For a revolution. I love it.
  7. broken by lovelytheband – What better lyrical song to highlight the unnatural relationship of Kazuaki and Bermuda? Traditional love songs just wouldn’t do. He adores her dearly, but doesn’t know a damn thing about lovey-dovey sentiment. I like ‘broken’ because the nicest thing that’s able to be said is ‘I like that you’re broken’, which is hardly a compliment at all, but somehow, the way it’s said, you know it’s meant as a term of endearment. It’s Kazuaki and Bermuda, for sure.
  8. Long Time Traveller by The Wailing Jennys – One of the more obscure songs that reminds me of the series, but this one goes through my head each time a character dies. It also reminds me of Kazuaki’s perpetual journey to find a way to terminate his contract with immortality, so that he, too, could join those he bonded with in the afterlife. “I’m a long time traveling here below, I’m a long time traveling away from home” guts me in a way, when I think of the psychological ramifications that would stem from watching lifetimes of loved ones rise and fall.
  9. All of Me by John Legend – I feel a little silly posting so many ‘love’ songs in this list, since the few romantic relationships that exist in the Panagea Tales play a far less poignant role than the camaraderie and the general pursuit of completing the primary goal… but this is another one that reminded me of Kazuaki’s affection toward Bermuda. Maybe I enjoy them so much because he rarely puts his sentimentality on display, so it’s fun for me to think about that (almost) non-existent side of him.
  10. Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi – I can’t really dive into why this one represents the book(s) without ruining some pretty big moments in the story. Just know that it’s as applicable as it is heartbreaking, and that’s why it made the list.
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Kan Savasci Cycle

by eileentroemel, posted in Book Tour
Tears of a Heart
Kan Savasci Cycle Book 1
by Chase Blackwood
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Winner of John E Weaver Excellent Reads Award
#50 of 100 Best Fantasy Series Ever – reedsydiscovery
He’s been called the Scourge of Bodig, the Bane of Verold, but most know him as the Kan Savasci. He’s one of the most feared men alive. Chaos and war have followed him like an angry shadow.
The one problem, as the world faces the wrath of forgotten gods, Kan Savasci is nowhere to be found.
The annalist, a man trained in the ancient arts of the arkein, has been tasked to uncover the whereabouts of the Kan Savasci at any cost. In order to find the man, one must unmask the depths of his reclusive history.
The clock is ticking as Verold descends into darkness.
Delve into an award-winning fantasy novel described as “epic,” “beautiful,” and “reminiscent of Rothfuss’ work.”
Tower of the Arkein
Kan Savasci Cycle Book 2
2017 Royal Dragonfly E-Book Award Winner, 1st Place
Beverley Hills Book Award Finalist: Fantasy
2017 Best Book Awards Finalist: Fantasy
#50 of 100 Best Fantasy Series Ever – reedsydiscovery
Trapped as a slave, facing an impossible decision, Aeden must choose between his friends and his soul…
The clock is ticking as the world descends into darkness.
He’s been called the Scourge of Bodig, the Bane of Verold, but most know him as the Kan Savasci. He’s one of the most feared men alive. Chaos and war have followed him like an angry shadow. The one problem, as the world faces the wrath of forgotten gods, Kan Savasci is nowhere to be found.
The annalist, a man trained in the ancient arts of the arkein, has been tasked to uncover the whereabouts of the Kan Savasci at any cost. In order to find the man, one must unmask the depths of his reclusive history.
Into the Fold
Kan Savasci Cycle Book 3
Continue the Award Winning Saga…
For over a millennium The Fold has been a carefully guarded secret, shrouded in mystery. Within its shadowy depths the greatest of the old gods had carved a world unto himself. A place unrivaled in its beauty, obscurity, and danger.
Trapped within The Fold, under the tutelage of the last arkeinists, Aeden must overcome his greatest obstacle, or die trying.
Welcome to Chase Blackwood’s author bio, where he’ll try to write something interesting about his life that captures your attention.
Chase Blackwood’s life has been defined by struggle the way a moth battles an insect zapping light. He’s studied martial arts since childhood in an effort to overcome fear. He’s lived in a half dozen countries in an effort to “find himself,” traveled to over 60 countries in an effort to “find humanity,” lived in nine states just for the hell of it, oh… and the military has had something to do with that too. Chase has enjoyed combating terrorism, working as a federal agent, and also really likes puppies.
His most recent passion, puppies aside, has been working on
the Kan Savasci Cycle, a series of fantasy novels that pulls from
his life experiences to make the most vivid world imaginable.
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