April 2018 ~ Amanda's Books and More

Monday, April 30, 2018

Hired Gun - A Bounty Hunter Space Opera Adventure

Hired Gun

About the Book:

Title: Hired Gun - A Bounty Hunter Space Opera Adventure (Aeon 14: Machete System Bounty Hunter Book 1) | Author: M.D. Cooper and Zen Dipietro | Publisher: The Wooden Pen Press | Pages: 275 | Genre: Science-Fiction | Recommend Ages: Young Adult and Up

Book Description:

Reece is all about her Akonwaran whiskey.

Well, that, and a good fight. If her job doesn’t give her enough opportunity, her best friend Kippy will hustle up a brawl for her at his bar.

Most of the time, she’s busy enough as a corporate fixer to keep her satisfied. Some people call her a bounty hunter, and she does do a lot of hunting people down. Her expertise goes much deeper than that, though, she demands a steep price for it.

When her boss assigns her an unwanted partner, Reece is further dismayed to find that he’s a gen-mod from outside the retro zone. The last thing she wants to do is be a mentor to someone like that. She’ll scrape him off if she can.

As they chase a rogue scientist out of the Machete system, she’s looking for a way to get rid of him. That endeavor takes a backseat when their search for the scientist takes them into greater danger than either of them bargained for.

She’ll have to move fast and shoot straight to get out of this one.

A hired gun goes where the job is, and doesn’t ask too many questions.

Purchase on Amazon

My Review:

Hired Gun is the first book in this exciting space opera adventure series with a sassy, kick-butt heroine named Reece and her new gen-mod partner named Trey. Just because he has to tag-along doesn't mean that she has to play nice! This is a new series by Zen DiPietro in collaboration with M.D. Cooper. It's just as much fun and action packed as her other books. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series!

More Reviews of Zen's Books:

2 FREE Science-Fiction Short Stories

Hello Protocol for Dead Girls

Heart-Shaped Chest

Trailblazer (Everternia Saga)

About the Author:

Zen DiPietro

Zen DiPietro is a lifelong bookworm, dreamer, writer, and a mom of two. Perhaps most importantly, a Browncoat Trekkie Whovian. Also red-haired, left-handed, and a vegetarian geek. Absolutely terrible at conforming. A recovering gamer, but we won’t talk about that. Particular loves include badass heroines, British accents, and the smell of Band-Aids. Writing reviews, author interviews, and fun stuff at www.zendipietro.com.

Website

Disclosure: I purchased this book when it was on an Amazon Kindle sale. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Please Note: Any prices listed were correct at the time of posting.

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Starswept by Mary Fan

Starswept

About the Book:

Book Description:

*** Finalist for 2017 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year in Young Adult Fiction***

Some melodies reach across the stars.

In 2157, the Adryil—an advanced race of telepathic humanoids—contacted Earth. A century later, 15-year-old violist Iris Lei considers herself lucky to attend Papilio, a prestigious performing arts school powered by their technology. Born penniless, Iris’s one shot at a better life is to attract an Adryil patron. But only the best get hired, and competition is fierce.

A sudden encounter with an Adryil boy upends her world. Iris longs to learn about him and his faraway realm, but after the authorities arrest him for trespassing, the only evidence she has of his existence is the mysterious alien device he slipped to her.

When she starts hearing his voice in her head, she wonders if her world of backstabbing artists and pressure for perfection is driving her insane. Then, she discovers that her visions of him are real—by way of telepathy—and soon finds herself lost in the kind of impossible love she depicts in her music.

But even as their bond deepens, Iris realizes that he’s hiding something from her—and it’s dangerous. Her quest for answers leads her past her sheltered world to a strange planet lightyears away, where she uncovers secrets about Earth’s alien allies that shatter everything she knows.

What Authors are Saying about the Book:

"The best science fiction novel I have read in a long time. I was absolutely captivated from the first page." — Lyssa Chiavari, author of the Iamos Trilogy

"A dark and dangerous tale of secrets and intrigue brightened by one young woman’s passion for music... Romance, music, and intergalactic conspiracies make this a fascinating coming-of-age story quite unlike anything I’ve ever read." — Karissa Laurel, author of the Stormbourne Chronicles

Purchase on Amazon:

Kindle | Hardcover

My Review:

Starswept is a thought provoking science fiction novel about aliens with their higher technology and humans with their skills in the performing arts. There are dark secrets and a transcending love. The story has deep themes, one of them being human trafficking. The pace is steady and the arts are well described. The characters are multifaceted and your heart goes out to them. The ending is satisfying with a sense that there could be a sequel. It is a unique science-fiction read and I highly recommend it for young adults and up.

About the Author:

Mary Fan

Mary Fan lives in New Jersey, where she is currently working in financial marketing. She has also resided in North Carolina, Hong Kong, and Beijing, China. She has been an avid reader for as long as she can remember and especially enjoys the infinite possibilities and out-of-this-world experiences of science fiction and fantasy.

Mary has a B.A. in Music, specializing in composition, from Princeton University and enjoys writing songs as much as writing stories. She also enjoys kickboxing, opera singing, and exploring new things—she’ll try almost anything once.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review. There are no affiliate links.

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Ron C. Nieto Author Interview and a Linky

Today's interview is with the talented author, Ron C. Nieto. I fell in love with Ron's books while reading her Faerie Sworn series. I enjoyed all of the fun word play and power play between Lily and Troy. There were plenty of twists and turns and just enough romance that you felt the chemistry. I've reviewed two of those books on this blog and have included the links below. Now she has a new project in the pipeline and needs your help! If you're interested, then visit her campaign on Kickstarter. There's more information about her latest book project below and also inside the author interview.

Book Description:

They say power makes monsters out of men, so what will an ancient artifact of near-absolute power make of a monster?

The race is on for Aisling. With her place within the Fianna in question, she must enlist the help of Ancient History professor Ronan O’Neill to make sure that the Spear of Lugh, one of the four Irish Treasures and reputed to grant victory to whichever side wields it in battle, doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. She just never thought that there would be so many “wrong hands” vying for it, or that the professor she had started to feel attracted to would have quite such a big secret to hide…

Author Interview:
Ron C. Nieto

1. Where do you normally write or where is your favorite place to write?

Okay, I pledge guilty! I’m one of those café writers. I have a collection of little shops I love to go to, where I can just find my corner, order a drink and spend the next couple of hours typing away. My selection ranges from the Starbucks cliché to a neighborhood place that’s always empty and quiet if you know to hit it at the right time. And when a deadline is upon me and I need to put in some serious hours, I like to visit the library. I’m lucky enough to live in Madrid, Spain’s capital, and the National Library is just a short fifteen-minute stroll from my place. Just entering that building makes you want to work harder, I promise!

2. When do you find time to read and what do you usually like to read?

I don’t find nearly as much time to read as I’d like—because if it were up to me, I would never put a book down. While I’m plotting my own novel, I find spots to read all through the afternoon, but when it’s time to buckle down and start writing, those extra minutes go into typing rather than reading. At those times I fall back entirely to my backup plan (and guilty pleasure): audiobooks. I listen to at least half an hour of my current book before falling asleep, and when the book is particularly good and the narrator is just right? Well. Let’s just say I’ve pulled a number of all-nighters that have nothing to do with parties or work.

I enjoy most genres, but my favorites will always be fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, and historical and sci-fi romance. Not necessarily in that order.

3. What was the first book that you wrote and did you publish it?

Yikes. As I recall, it was a liberally embellished accounting of my summer adventures. The book was influenced by The Famous Five and The Little Vampire. I was eight. It hasn’t been published, and if I’m lucky, the floppy disk where I stored the file has been lost and damaged beyond salvation.

I wrote an epic fantasy influenced by (guess who?) Tolkien and Dragonlance during my teen years. Also, mercifully, unpublished.

Then I wrote a series of stories and full-length novels around videogames. People actually read those and enjoyed them, even if they were far (very, very far) from quality material. That’s when I finally got the idea, “hey, I can do this! Writing is a real career, and I can make it!”.

So, another novel. A first person, stream-of-consciousness vampire novel, gritty, with lots of mood and little point. Unpublished, but the seed for my routine, my style and my dedication.

That means the first novel I published was the fifth I’d written. I’d learned a lot from those past attempts, and I’ve learned even more since then. I hope never to stop learning!

4. What are common traps for aspiring writers?

I think the worst trap is that they think of themselves as “aspiring writers”. If they write, they are writers, period. They can be successful, or bestselling, or just writers, but they have the title.

Now, what they actually mean is that they are “aspiring authors”, as in writers who want to publish their work and make a living out of it. Again, that little word, “aspiring”, is a trap. If you want to make writing your career, you have to take it seriously. There are no “aspiring lawyers”, just “students” and then “lawyers”. Same thing here: take the time to understand story structure, narrative devices, genre conventions, market behavior, publishing trends… And once you have your “degree”, don’t treat writing as your hobby: treat it as your job, because it is.

Believe me, there is much more to being an author than “just” writing good books, but if you want to be an author, and you put in the hours as you would in your regular eight-to-five, you can do it. Forget about “aspiring” and start “being”.

5. Do you use your own name or a pseudonym?

A pseudonym… rather, a penname. Ron C. Nieto is based on my actual name, with a few minor tweaks:

I shortened my full name to the unisex “Ron” because I started out writing fantasy, and women don’t have that much luck in the genre. While I’ve shifted since then, I’ve come to think of myself as Ron at such a level that going back to “Veronica” would feel odd, and definitely not me.

And I have a two-part surname. The first part starts with “C”, and includes strange characters that would make it difficult for people to remember and pronounce, so I just initialed it and went with the second part.

6. What would you like readers to know about your latest book or book project?

I’m so excited about it! Fianna’s Awakening is an action-packed paranormal romance featuring a Celt warrior and an undercover druid on a race to recover an ancient artifact that threatens modern-day Ireland.

I’m currently running a Kickstarter campaign to fund the production of an audiobook! Success would also mean that backers get the book about six months before its planned release date, and there are also some interesting bonuses—like an exclusive personal planner, a limited print edition and the option to include the ebook boxset of my complete Faerie Sworn series in the bundle.

If you want to check it out and claim your copy, you can do so here on Kickstarter.

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

My Latest Book Posts:

Outcast: Keepers of the Stone

The Staircase of Fire

Book Blast and $25 Giveaway

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

Welcome to my weekend blog hop -

Make My Saturday Sweet #266

Make My Saturday Sweet is a weekend blog hop for all family friendly blogs. You are welcome to link your favorite post from the past week(s) and to visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment. It's a really easy and fun way to make new friends and to catch up on old acquaintances.

Now on to my blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Twitter

Facebook
Instagram

Here are the easy rules:

Follow Tina (your host) on one or more links listed above.
Link up a post from your family friendly blog.
Please try to add my hop button on your post or side-bar.
Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
Visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment.

Blog Button Code:

Weekend Linky

Visit my Blog Hops page to see
what link-ups I take part in.

Outcast: Keepers of the Stone (Book 1)

Outcast
Keepers of the Stone

About the Book:

Title: Outcast: Keepers of the Stone (Book 1) | Author: Andrew Anzur Clement | Pages: 314 | Genre: Historical Epic Fantasy Adventure | Recommended Ages: Young Adult

Book Description:

A trained killer. A demonic Order. A jewel that could change the course of history.

An orphan raised by a fanatical Sect of thieves, Malka has already sacrificed the lives of her people to protect the object she carries. Having become its unwitting guardian, she is forced to flee British India for the American West. Her immediate goal? Keep the Urumi's demonic Order off her trail and avoid being taken into the ranks of its enslaved members. But – even with her superhuman speed and the aid of a mysterious shapeshifter – doing so will prove tougher than she could’ve possibly imagined.

Stas is about to go on a journey of his own. The courageous son of a refugee learns he is being sent home to a continent he has never visited. But, even as he begins to grapple with his new environment, the Order of the Urumi sets it's own plans in motion for Stas and his closest friend, Nell. They are about to embark on their most dangerous adventure yet….

Trapped in unfamiliar parts the globe and thrust into a fantasy world they do not understand, Stas, Nell and Malka must struggle to find allies. Battle the Urumi. And uncover their path to the stone’s cataclysmic final purpose.

Whether they know it or not, their most epic quest has just begun....

The Keepers of the Stone fantasy trilogy is a soul-searching, action-packed adventure that will keep you guessing from its middle-of-the-action opening, right up until the end. If you enjoy epic fantasy adventures, don't miss this trilogy of expansive proportions that tests the limits of our potential.

Purchase on Amazon:

Kindle | Paperback

My Review:

Outcast is the first book in the Keepers of the Stone trilogy. The story begins right in the middle of the action and eludes to big events that have already happened in the lives of our teenage heroes. Most of the bad guys are completely evil, but not all of them, and the good guys aren't a hundred percent good. In fact, the main protagonist, Malka, is a thief and proud of it.

The story follows the lives of three teenage heroes who begin their adventures in India and end up on different continents. They have at least five things in common: they are teenagers, they are third culture kids, they are fighting on the same side, they are keepers (protectors) of the stone, and they have a common enemy, the evil Urumi. The story also follows the life of a teenager who works for the Urumi against her will. I recommend a small understanding of world history before reading this book, because there is a lot going on. It was certainly a fascinating read that will keep your mind engaged.

About the Author:

Andrew Anzur Clement

Get your FREE ebook copy of Voyages of Fortune Book Zero: Discoveries, an eight short story novella set in the Keepers of the Stone universe, at the following link: http://bit.ly/2wPEaJ2

Raised by the Slavic branch of his family, Andrew Anzur Clement has been interested in his roots since childhood. As a teenager, he devoured numerous sci-fi/fantasy books, during which time he developed a love for the printed page. The Los Angeles native departed with a curiosity for more exotic lands at the ripe old age of nineteen and quickly discovered a pathological wanderlust that has led him to visit, live and work in many interesting places around the world. Based in Europe, the now twenty-something realizes his dream of being a full-time writer. He continues to read and travel widely, finding new stories in the places he encounters.

Disclosure: This is my honest review. There are no affiliate links.

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

The Staircase of Fire Book Blast

The Staircase of Fire Book Blast April 24 - 26
Ben Woodard's newest young adult mystery.

About the Book

Title: The Staircase of Fire (A Shakertown Adventure, Book 3)
Author: Ben Woodard
Genre: Young Adult Mystery
Number of Pages: 276
Publisher: Miller-Martin Press
Publication Date: May 25, 2018
Summary: A quiet town in Kentucky explodes from a racial incident and fourteen-year-old Tom Wallace is in the thick of it. His past haunts him and now he’s witness to a horrific event leaving him devastated and afraid. He must escape his town and its memories. But leaving has consequences, too. He will have to betray his friends and his new love.

Nothing stops his nightmares. Not high risk activities or running away. But when his past returns, Tom is forced to confront his greatest fear and finally realizes he cannot escape himself. Now he has to take a stand that could change his life—or end it.

“…a highly recommended pick for teens looking for something different…” D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

iTunes ~ Kobo ~ Barnes & Noble

Other books in the series...

A Stairway to Danger (A Shakertown Adventure, Book 1)

An eyeless body. A menacing stranger. And a tangled mystery.
It’s the summer of 1923 and two cousins hunting for hidden gold stumble on an decayed body. Fourteen-year-old Tom Wallace is convinced the death was murder and drags his older cousin into a harrowing struggle against a shadowy group. Not even attempts on their lives can stop the boys from relentlessly pursuing the mystery. But when their curiosity leads them to investigate a derelict barge, what they find is bigger and more dangerous than anything they could have imagined.

A STAIRWAY TO DANGER is a fun-filled thriller with humor and adventure in a Twain-like setting.

Winner! Orangeberry Hall of Fame Best Young Adult novel for 2013

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Steps Into Darkness (A Shakertown Adventure, Book 2)

Explosions, sabotage, deadly warnings, and a dangerous red-haired man. Imagine The Hardy Boys meet Tom Sawyer. Add a layer of teen angst and excitement plus a mysterious group stirring up racial tensions.

That’s STEPS INTO DARKNESS, the second book in the Shakertown Adventure Series by Ben Woodard.

Fourteen-year-old Tom Wallace again makes plans to escape the small town in the 1923 Kentucky countryside—the town that won’t let him forget his past, when a horrific event changes his mind. He teams with his cousin, Will, and young FBI agent Rick Sweeney to solve a perplexing mystery. Attempts on the boys’ lives and a bewildering list of suspects keep them on edge and confused until they discover the real villain—and then wish they hadn’t.

STEPS INTO DARKNESS is a fun, page-turning thriller with a hint of romance that delivers adventure and mystery while exploring the fears of a teen living with a frightful memory.

Amazon ~ Kobo ~ Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Ben is a (mostly) retired amateur adventurer who has traveled across Tibet, climbed to 18,000 feet on Mt. Everest, and solo backpacked wilderness areas. Now his adventures come in the form of imagining stories, writing and telling them to kids and teens. He works with teachers, schools and literacy organizations spreading the word that books are vital—and fun.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Google+

Author's Website ~ Publisher's Website ~ Netgalley

Book Blast Giveaway

Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner's choice

Giveaway ends: May 8, 11:59 pm, 2018
Open to: Internationally
How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Ben Woodard and is hosted and managed by Stacie from BeachBoundBooks. If you have any additional questions feel free to send an email to stacie@BeachBoundBooks.com.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Plumbago and Hibiscus Flowers with Linky

Plumbago and Hibiscus Flowers

from My Back Garden

This blog is best viewed in Google Chrome.

Click on the photos to enlarge them.

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

Here's a peek at
my latest post

on 1camera1mom:

The Family at Velddrif

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

My Latest Book Reviews
and Author Interview:

C.S. Johnson Author Interview

Dragon School Books 7 and 8

Dragon School: First Message by [Wilson, Sarah K. L. ]

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

Now on to my blog hop...

Come link up your Wordless Wednesday

(with or without words) or any picture post

at this Picture Perfect Party Linky.

Join me on this fun and easy blog hop!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Twitter

Facebook
Instagram

and

Here are the easy rules:

Follow me on one or more links above or via email.
Link-up your post with a picture and follow as many new blogs as you like.
If possible, copy the button code below and add it on your linked post or blog's side-bar.
Tell others about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.

The Button Code:

This is a Wordless Wednesday blog hop.

Visit my Blog Hops page to see the hops that I often link up to.

Thursday, April 19, 2018

C.S. Johnson Author Interview and a Linky

C.S. Johnson has an awesome new series coming out soon. I've already read an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of the first book, Kingdom of Ash and Soot, and was hooked! First I will introduce the book, since she mentions it in her interview. By the way, don't you agree that it's a beautiful cover?

Kingdom of Ash and Soot

Book Description:

“I want to be free.” The words came rushing out of me before I could think through their implications and consequences.

“There are two things you need to know about yourself if you want to be free—what you stand for, and what you stand against.” Lady Penelope held up her hands, brandishing a pair of daggers that had been hidden in her skirts. “This world lives enslaved to its destruction, and so long as you are living, as long as you are fighting, you will be free.”

I gazed at the daggers, transfixed. Each blade was clothed in a leather scabbard, but the silver and obsidian of the daggers’ hilts winked at me, as though it was calling for me.

PRAGUE, 1870.

For the last ten years, nineteen-year-old Eleanora Svobodová has worked as a servant in her stepmother's household. Along with her older brother, she dreams of the day they will be free to live life on their own terms.

But everything changes when their estranged grandmother comes to Prague on behalf of Queen Victoria. Throughout Bohemia, a string of murders and secret whispers hint at a larger coup. As the leader of the Order of the Crystal Daggers, an ancient order of spies and soldiers that protect kingdoms and their rulers, Lady Penelope is determined to mete out the perpetrators. Now, Eleanora must make the choice between a life of intrigue and saving the lives of others.

Can Eleanora find a way do the right thing and still find freedom?

With a fun blend of historical fiction, true love, castle intrigue, and family dysfunction, The Order of the Crystal Daggers is the latest adventure series from C. S. Johnson.

This book is not yet available

for purchase. Here's a link

to the book on GoodReads.

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

Author Interview:

C.S. Johnson

1. What does a typical day in your home look like?

“Messy” is the first word that comes to mind. I joke that I am the Stay at Home Sex Goddess rather than the Stay at Home Mom. I don’t cook or clean very often or very well (my mother is cringing as I write this) but I definitely have kids. They are still very young yet, so they get into everything and every day I lament the growing pile of laundry, even if it will be a week before I force myself to take care of it. I have what I call “The Bear Family,” because I have a son and daughter. Together with my husband, we will one day cosplay as the Bearenstain Bears. We have a dog right now, too, who counts double as a furry vacuum cleaner. My husband goes to work, and I take care of the house, and periodically I collapse in my shower wondering if I’m a good enough mom and worrying about how I will fail them in life. But there are bad days, too. Just kidding! There are good days and better days, but I am definitely grateful for all I have and I am so glad I do have what I have, even if it gets hectic once in a while.

2. Do you use your own name or a pseudonym?

I use “C. S. Johnson,” and it is so funny how it worked out, because C. S. Lewis and Samuel Johnson are among my favorite authors. I enjoy both of them and since Johnson is my married name, I could not have planned it out without being a stalker at some point. I attribute that to God’s sense of humor.

3. How long on average does it take you to write a book?

I like to think I can write a book a month, but I am basically useless while I wait for it to be edited. It depends on the book, too. Some stories just come, and others come enough to entice me, and others I have to beg and plead and kick and scream before they come out to play. Slumbering was the first book that took me a long time to write, and the two books after that in the series, Calling and Submerging were both entirely rewritten as well.

4. If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

I started writing just as the ebook revolution came to be. My first Kindle was $200, and it was the original. I was actually sad when it died. But I would tell myself that it was just possible to write, first, and to edit like crazy. I’m still learning how to write books in the sense that I can play with different things, and see how they go. One of the best things that I learned while writing my novella series was I don’t do short books well. Most of my books are 60K or more. I tried to keep it around 50K for those, and it was just hard. I also don’t like to do longer books. Kingdom of Ash and Soot is close to 100K, and I can tell it’s a good book because I can read it and I don’t even realize how much I’ve read until it’s over and I am wanting more.

So I would tell myself to DO IT and EDIT IT, and just keep going.

5. Where do you usually find inspiration for your books?

I like big-concept ideas mixed in with stuff that amuses and intrigues me. I love finding things that make me feel clever and I cheer when I’ve made someone laugh. The Starlight Chronicles was my homage to my teenage angst, but also a love letter to an atheist friend of mine on the nature of believe and specifically the believer’s journey; the Divine Space Pirates was a romantic treatise on politics, religion, family, and truth; and The Order of the Crystal Daggers is my homage to my heritage as well as my journey through understanding freedom and the nature of it as I see it in different parts of my life.

Most of my work revolves around seeing things we know in a different way. Faith and fantasy, politics and leadership, myths and true myths; all of these things matter to me, and I want people to see them not just for what they are, or what they were, but for what they could be.

6. How many books to you plan to write for this series?

I like to play with different things. I consider myself a young writer, and I probably will be for a long time. But I’ve tried different things, such as using different POVs, lengths, series lengths, pantsing and planning, changing it up with male and female MCs and different genres. So it’s not always clear how many books will be in a series, and I’m okay with that. I do like to keep it to trilogies if I can, but my Starlight series is still something I enjoy to reread immensely. I know I want to try to write different lengths for most of the series I have planned. The Divine Space Pirates and The Order of the Crystal Daggers were both good ideas for trilogies because of the elements of three that were both presented in the stories themselves (Heaven, Earth, and Hell; grandmother, mother, daughter; specific, theme-driven conflicts on social, personal, and inner-personal levels). But I know I have a 5-part fantasy adventure planned, and another sci-fi that will be at least a trilogy, and I have another fun dystopia planned that’s a duology. Most of the time, it’s the stories that plan themselves.

7. What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?

For me, most of it becomes more difficult when I write about relationships. I know there are some well-worn generalities about men and women and what they find attractive and how they act on it, but I believe there are exceptions, and lots of them. So it is hard to hear someone say “I don’t think this how a guy/girl like this would approach this,” and not think “but there are SOME who would!”

8. How do you select the names of your characters?

There are a number of ways I do, but each character name is important to me. I enjoy naming characters. For me, that is their “conception” moment. They are truly alive when I call them by their names. I enjoy having stories behind the name, too, and sometimes their name helps define their characters better. For example, “Theo” in Beauty’s Curse was inspired by Theophilus from the book of Acts. His name means “Lover of God,” and Theo plays a large role throughout the plot of the series that matches his name ironically and accurately. In the Starlight Chronicles, “Hamilton” came from a number of things, but I enjoy seeing a name that means “beautiful mountain,” as it is moved toward a life completely different from the one he planned. “Aerie” from The Heights of Perdition was a name that solidified her character and her role—she is always causing trouble, both good and bad, for the people in her life who love her.

For Kingdom of Ash and Soot, Eleanora came from a desire to retell Cinderella, but later on, I forgot about that part, and I enjoyed her name because her two main identities throughout the book—“Nora,” from her brother, and “Ella,” from her love interest—show the dynamics her choices place on her. I know from having my own various nicknames that there is something to owning who you are and still being unique to different people. It is exciting to see which name or identity she will choose for herself.

9. Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

YES, definitely! It’s too fun not to hide some hints and clues along the way. I do it for many reasons, but most of the things I hide or include are things that mean something to me. Several characters are inspired by real people and I enjoy getting to tell stories where they interact with characters from my mind.

10. What does literary success look like to you?

I write to give, and I live to be able to give back. I want to be able to make a living, even a modest one, and still be able to give back. I have a few ideas for non-profits and just general ways to give back. I am very aware that I have a great life, and even though I still have my share of problems, I can do something to make someone else’s life better, and I want to be able to do that.

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

Books by C.S. Johnson

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

My Latest Book Reviews:

Dragon School Books 7 and 8

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

Welcome to my weekend blog hop -

Make My Saturday Sweet #265

Make My Saturday Sweet is a weekend blog hop for all family friendly blogs. You are welcome to link your favorite post from the past week(s) and to visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment. It's a really easy and fun way to make new friends and to catch up on old acquaintances.

Now on to my blog hop...

It's time for another Make My Saturday Sweet blog hop!

Join me (your host) for this fun and easy hop.

All family friendly blogs are welcome!

I would love for you to follow me on

Google+

Twitter

Facebook
Instagram

Here are the easy rules:

Follow Tina (your host) on one or more links listed above.
Link up a post from your family friendly blog.
Please try to add my hop button on your post or side-bar.
Share about this hop on Twitter, Google+ or Facebook.
Visit the last link before yours and leave a sweet comment.

Blog Button Code:

Weekend Linky

Visit my Blog Hops page to see
what link-ups I take part in.

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Dragon School Books 7 and 8

Dragon School:

First Message

About the Book:

Title: Dragon School: First Message | Author: Sarah K. L. Wilson | Genre: Fantasy Adventure | Pages: 82 | Recommended Age: Young Adult

Book Description:

Truth lies beneath the surface.

A new story from USA Today Bestselling author, Sarah K. L. Wilson

After a stunning revelation at the healing arches, Amel is more desperate than ever to deliver her message to Comard Eaglespring. But nothing is ever that simple and when old friends and adversaries resurface, Amel discovers her world is not entirely what it seemed

Fans of Anne McCaffrey’s Dragon Riders of Pern and Christopher Paolini’s Eragon will love Dragon School.

First Message is episode seven of Dragon School – expect a new episode every eighteen days!

Always FREE on Kindle Unlimited

Purchase on Amazon

My Review:

Dragon School: First Message is Book 7 in this new and exciting young adult fantasy adventure. Amel is growing in her role as a trainee dragon rider. She's apprenticed to the best. But the good guys are few and the bad guys keep getting stronger. There's one princess of light and one of darkness. Then danger gets too close to Amel and threatens the one she loves. This is a quick read with a cliffhanger ending!

Dragon School:

Warring Promises

About the Book:

Title: Dragon School: Warring Promises | Author: Sarah K. L. Wilson | Genre: Fantasy Adventure | Pages: 96 | Recommended Age: Young Adult

Book Description:

Promises are great - until you have to choose which ones to honor.

A new story from USA Today Bestselling author, Sarah K. L. Wilson

With a friend kidnapped by the Dusk Covenent and urgent messages to deliver to the Dominar, it looks like Amel will be forced to choose between loyalties again - until her friends' choices take the decision out of her hands. Now, she has to follow ancient prophecies to a place of power or risk losing all of them to her enemies.

Fans of Anne McCaffrey’s Dragon Riders of Pern and Christopher Paolini’s Eragon will love Dragon School.

Warring Promises is episode eight of Dragon School – expect a new episode every eighteen days!

Always FREE on Kindle Unlimited

Purchase on Amazon

My Review:

Dragon School: Warring Promises is Book 8 in this new and exciting young adult fantasy adventure. Amel can't hide behind her trainee status as the war forces her into bigger roles and more dangerous situations. When her master is called away, she has to stand on her own two feet even if one leg is lame. Does she have what it takes to fight alongside the red dragons when they're obviously outnumbered? And, what secret has Raolcan been keeping from her?

More Dragon School Books:

First Flight (Book 1)

Initiate (Book 2)

The Dark Prince (Book 3)

The Ruby Isles (Book 4)

Dragon School Books 5 and 6

More Books by Sarah Wilson:

Unweaving Chronicles

The Ex-Pacifist

The Splitting

The Matsumoto

About the Author:

Sarah K. L. Wilson

USA Today bestselling author, Sarah K. L. Wilson, hails from the rocky Canadian Shield in Northern Ontario where she lives with her husband and two small boys. Her interests include the outdoors, history, and philosophy. Her books are always about fantastical adventures in other worlds.

Website | Twitter

Disclosure: I received an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) for both books and these are my honest reviews.