IWSG - Sequels, Shimmer, and Syfy

IWSG—Insecure Writers Support Group: The Final Frontier.

These are the continuing voyages of the Ninja Captain, AJC. His mission, to explore all new writing venues, to seek out new authors and new blogs. 

To boldly go where no blogateer has gone before.

Coming together on the first Wednesday of every month for a virtual pat on the back. 

IWSG. To sequel or not to sequel? That is the question.

Of Adamant and Fire

With a manuscript of a new book series in first edits, I wonder now if I really want to make it into a multiple books. I could tie up the characters and empathize The End to make it hit a wall. Or leave it as it is despite not knowing where it is headed.

It is a quandary.

Shimmer. Matthew Keith has a new book out that dives into the mysteries of the lost colony of Roanoke. 

July, 1587

115 men, women, and children vanished from the Island Colony of Roanoke with no explanation. The only clue left was a single word carved into a post on the fence surrounding the village: “CROATOAN”.

This is their story, and the story of the family who was the cause of the colony's downfall.

Shimmer follows Alexander Croatoan, the modern-day descendant of a man whose brilliance undid an entire community, as well as his family for generations after.

Movies and TV. Dominion on SyFy channel starts its second season on July 9th. It has an interesting yet disturbing

premise. 

God vanishes and in his absence the archangel Gabriel and his army of lower angels wage war against mankind, believing them to be the cause of God's absence. 

Archangel Michael has chosen to side with humanity against Gabriel, living among humans in the fortified city of Vega (once Las Vegas) until the time a prophesied savior appears to save mankind - courtesy Wikipedia.

Gobs of plot holes in this rather cool series and too many clichéd tropes. But it is my guilty pleasure of the month.

Since the script could be improved, clearly the hunk-factor is part of the allure. Examples:

Tom Wisdom as Archangel Michael

Carl Beukes as Gabriel

And Christopher Egan—Eragon, Letters to Juliet—as the Chosen One.

Agents. New agents, Rebecca Stead, The Book Group and Lena Yarbrough at InkWell.

Ms. Stead is interested in young adult and childrens. Ms Yarbrough in commercial, literary, and nonfiction.

News in Book World. How can Harper Lee top To Kill a Mockingbird? And who hasn't pre-ordered her second book in fifty-five years, Go Set a Watchman?

Do you like reading series? How about writing multiple books of the same universe. How you seen Dominion and isn't Michael...well, hot?

Lexa Cain and Soul Cutter

This is a review by my good friend, Matthew Keith. Read and enjoy!

Soul Cutter by Lexa Cain

What an amazing and original story. Lexa Cain's debut novel is an outstanding YA story about an angst-ridden young girl, Elan, who is forced to travel to Egypt in order to save her reality-star mother, who has mysteriously disappeared.

Elan is no timid "Bella" kind of leading character--when the story opens, she is on the job as a teen-aged psychic-buster. Because of her mother's lack of ever being around and the kind of work her mother does (she's the host of a kind of "Most Haunted Places of the World" type of show), Elan has a passion for busting fake psychics who scam people out of their hard-earned money. It's kind of a big F-You to her mother.

Immediately upon arriving in Egypt, the action really kicks in and Elan throws in with Ramsey, a young man who was (is) employed with her mother's show. He helps her hunt down her mother's whereabouts and a bit of "impossible romance" is fostered. "Impossible", because both Elan and Ramsey have personal issues and have to keep reminded themselves they're not interested and don't have the time for anything romantic.

Pace was amazing, non-stop, and kept me coming back for more. Characters, every one of them, had depth that far surpassed your usual debut novel's cast--in fact, it far surpassed many veteran writers' casts. The plot twists were unexpected and brought me even deeper into a story that I was already fully invested in.

Great book for any fan of YA adventure. 5 of 5 stars.

SMASHWORDS
GOODREADS

Watchers: Book Two is Out

Watchers: Book Two $0.99 Release

THURSDAY OCT 17

TO CELEBRATE THE RELEASE,
BOOK ONE IS AVAILABLE.

JUST $0.99

Thursday, October 17 - Thursday October 31

Watchers of the Night

Indictum Rising

Don't miss this action-packed sequel as Paul and the rest of the gang at Astralis go head-to-head with a new and dangerous adversary.

Paul Bennett is a Walker--someone who walks the night in their dreams free of their body--and a member of Astralis, an agency funded by the UN that uses Walkers to gather intelligence.

A rogue Walker from Astralis attempted to take over the agency six months previous, but failed. Now, he has formed his own agency. He has declared war on Astralis and will stop at nothing to gain control of every Walker on the world.

AVAILABLE THROUGH AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE, KOBO, SONY, AND APPLE

Matthew Keith

Website

Watchers of the Night on Amazon

Blog http://matthewkeithreviews.blogspot.com

A Grownup Harry Potter? Maybe. Meet Justus

Spotlight on me at Matthew Keith Reviews! And here I am so reclusive that my daughter claims she's seen me wearing camo gear when I go to the store.

CD COFFELT burst onto the urban fantasy scene on August 27 of this year with her wildly successful debut novel, Wilder Mage. It has received rave reviews from all over the net and has created quite a buzz in fantasy circles.

CD came back to MK Reviews for an interview to discuss herself and her novel. What a great chance to get to know such an amazing talent!

If you're a writer, stop by and visit her blog, where there are some amazing resources available. UnicornBell.

Harry Potter, step aside and meet Justus Aubre—Wilder Mage.

* * * *

Q: What was your inspiration behind Wilder Mage?
A: Authors of urban fantasy, Jim Butcher, Patricia Briggs, Richelle Mead, Charlaine Harris; they are the storytellers that make a person dream and think What if? They are the masters of this field, these writers of fantasy.

Q:Why did you become a writer?
A: After reading a beloved series, I wanted more. I wanted to know what happened after the books ended. I needed to know how they began. And so I composed my own bit of Fan Fiction to learn the secrets. I asked a good friend if the articles I wrote were any good and the friend said, “You should be published.”

That started the whole shebang. I dropped the Fan Fic and wrote a manuscript that had been rumbling around in my head. Then I wrote a second, a third, and fourth. Musa Publishing picked up the second manuscript, Wilder Mage.

Q: What is it about writing that you love?
A: Oddly enough, it is the community of writers. Writing is like air. I have to have it to survive. But the wonderful people I’ve met along the road to Published are amazing. These writers give their time, expertise, and wisdom to help newbies learn the trade.

I do the same with my critique site, UnicornBell. We live the phrase, Paying It Forward.

Q: Is Wilder Mage your only novel? If there are others, what are the titles? Tell us about them.
A: Wilder is my debut as Published Author. My first manuscript is still the love of my life but it needs work. My third has “published” on the horizon. Number four, Diamond Black, is a wip, but the sequel to Wilder Mage is taking over my life right now.

Q: What projects are you working on currently?
A: The Magic Denied (working title), sequel to Wilder Mage. Plus I spend a chunk of my day reviewing books and blogging.

Q:Wilder Mage is speculative fiction. Do you write books outside that genre?
A: Anything and everything fantasy is my meat and potatoes, but I doodle with Sci-fi also.

Q:What is your favorite genre?
A: Fantasy. Epic, high, swords and sorcery, dark, urban: all subgenres of fantasy have me hooked. All flavors, first to last.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself. Hobbies, talents, family, where you're from.
A: I grew up in the Midwest, small town America, with one dream. I wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder and live the farm life. I achieved that dream after marrying my farmer hubby. But meshing that life with Middle Earth took a little doing. I had lots of Magic of course and plenty of imagination. Then, in a way, my dreams came full circle. Ms. Wilder started out as a farmer and then became a writer as she matured. I like that idea.

Q: When you read, what kind of books do you read? What are you reading now?
A: Nearly everything I read is fantasy or one of its classmates. Right now, I’m reading a great collection of short stories called Passing Time by Ellie Garratt. Great stuff, great writing, and very challenging. A definite five-star novel.

Q: What is the most challenging aspect of writing for you?
A: Time of course. Life keeps interfering.

Q: Is there anything you'd like to say to your fans?
A: My dearest wish is that Wilder Mage will launch my fans to a place of wonder. No writer could ask for more. Everything else takes second place.

Q: How do you feel about Wilder Mage, personally? Is there anything you would change now that it is finished?
A: Definitely. I don’t think there’s a writer born who wouldn’t change something in their books. Personally, Wilder is a fascinating place for me, a different outlook on the magical elements that surround us.

Q: What is your process when you write?
A: Movie soundtracks like Star Trek, video game music like Halo sets the stage. Clearing my mind is important also. If a scene isn’t working out or I’ve hit a snag, I walk. Sometimes around the house, sometimes on a treadmill. Driving down the road at sixty mph works well also but I hate pulling over every ten minutes to scribble down what my weird mind has envisioned.

Q: How do you get to know your characters? Give an example.
A: Breaking down their reticence can be difficult. The Voices. Sometimes we don’t talk to each other. Finding them and learning to listen is most important. Doing a character interview, writing a short story about their early life, or asking them questions tends to break the ice.

Q: Who designed the cover art for Wilder Mage?
A: An angel disguised as artist Kelly Shorten at Musa Publishing. She listens to an author’s description of what they want in a cover then brings the ramblings to life. Really, she must have a touch of clairvoyance. Professional and right on target, every single book cover at Musa.

Q: Who is your favorite character in any book you've ever written? Why?
A: A preternatural rapier in my first manuscript, Of Oak and Dragons. The need to protect its master, Leah, collides with its delusions of grandeur.

Q: What popular book would you compare Wilder Mage to? Why?
A: It is a cross between a grown up Harry Potter and Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files. Magic is the theme of both Harrys, but my character, Justus, uses the elements without wands, spells, or charms. It is a different world, a new way to see the magic around us.

Links:
Musa Publishing
Amazon
B&N
GoodReads

Update: Wilder Mage is #1 on Amazon’s Hot New Releases and made it to several Best Sellers lists including #1 at Horror/Occult. 

Matthew Keith Review for Wilder Mage

Just a wee bit verklempt Darn allergies.

____
Review for Wilder Mage

Absolutely Fantastic, September 18, 2013 By  Matthew Keith This review is from: Wilder Mage (The Magic Withheld) (Kindle Edition) From http://matthewkeithreviews.blogspot.com If I could give this novel 6 stars, I would. I am humbled and dumbstruck at the idea that this is CD Coffelt's debut novel. She will become a household name as long as she doesn't put down her pen. Or laptop. Or whatever. Set in modern times, in an urban landscape, this is the story of Justus Aubre, a powerful mage who lives his life on the run from those who rule the world of magic, the Imperium. He lives by staying below their radar, never showing himself for who and what he is unless absolutely necessary. Sable Rounds--a young lady who is also a mage and coincidentally number one on the "naughty list" with the Imperium--changes all that. They meet, fall in love, and Justus's life is changed forever. There is no way for me to convey how well-written and complete this novel is, in every way. This is one of those novels I strongly considered calling in sick in order to finish reading. It has grit, substance, and depth that is rarely found in the fantasy genre. If you're a fan of fantasy and have an already-deep reading list, do yourself the favor of adding this one and putting it toward the top. From the very first paragraph right to the amazing ending, you will not be disappointed. And you will absolutely want more. WOW. _______

Justus is Center Stage and Irritated. Matthew Keith with Alex Witney's Review

Justus Aubre, my MC for Wilder Mage, doesn't care for the spotlight. Or for answering questions. Too bad.
He's squirming over at the Musa Publishing blog.

* * * *

Zombies: They're Not All Brain-Eaters by Alex Witney

A review by Matthew Keith.

The title of this book had me hooked before I read a single word. I'm a big fan of zombie movies, even the ones on Netflix that are truly awful. In fact, I may be more of a fan of the awful ones than the ones that made it into theaters.

This had a Shaun of the Dead feel to it: two roommate slackers who go on an adventure in a zombified world. The difference in this story is that the world has been zombified for a while, and one of slackers is already a zombie thanks to a serum that brings dead tissue (mostly brain tissue) back to life. The serum has become mainstream across the entire world and a great portion of the population is now undead, and thanks to pro-nameyourcause movements, they've been given most of the same rights as the UN-undead population.

The concept behind this book is wonderful, witty, and presented in a comical light. The first few pages of the book really set the tone-loved it. There is no way you could interpret this story as anything but humorous.

There are a few very glaring editorial issues, which unfortunately took away from the story. The author, while having put together a great plot and back-story, could have tightened up many of the scenes and made the comedic portions of the story a bit more 'silly'. After all, the premise of the book is, in itself, very silly, so why not capitalize on that aspect as often and as prominently as possible.

I did enjoy this book overall, and could easily see it ending up as a screenplay. I absolutely LOVED the way it ended. Kudos to a very creative author who could probably use a more aggressive editor.

I give Zombies: They're Not All Brain-Eaters 3 of 5 stars.

* * * *

Check out Alex's book then go to Musa's blog site and give Justus a hard time. He needs a dose of humility.

Matthew Keith Reviews, The King's Son

From time to time, I will post reviews and interviews by Matthew Keith.


The King's Son by JF Castillo


"In this fantasy adventure novel, a young prince undertakes a journey to save his his kingdom. His father, the king, is old and sick. The kingdom, as a result, has been neglected and poorly governed. Both the king and the prince are very unpopular, seen by the people as unfit rulers.

In the midst of this upheaval, the prince is told that an artifact of great significance - a key - has been stolen. In the wrong hands, this key could open the door that could lead to the ruination of the kingdom. The prince is tasked with finding the thief and returning the key. Seeing it as a chance to prove himself to his people, the prince gladly accepts the task and the plot is born.

This is a well-wrought story with many twists. Most of the characters don't turn out to be who you think they are, making you second-guess many of their decisions only to find later they had an agenda all

Although there are a number of editing issues that have a tendency to interfere with the pacing and flow of the writing, they are not enough to keep the story from holding your interest through to the end, which is left wide open for a sequel.

I look forward to seeing more from JF Castillo and would recommend this story to any fan of classic fantasy adventure.

I give The King's Son 3.5 stars out of 5."

Are You Looking for a Review Site?

Matthew Keith is the kind of guy who oozes ambition. And Great Ideas. Below is just a snippet of his bio. Go here to continue.

Back in high school, I was a 6'3" bean pole with long scraggly hair, a jean jacket that I wore nearly every day of my life, and drove around in a loud, busted-up '76 Cutlass that I bought from my big brother and thought was the greatest thing on four wheels. Guns 'n' Roses, ripped up jeans, radio way too loud - I was that guy.

 He has a blog that promotes writers, gives them a venue to show the world what they can do. Matthew is also a big proponent of Pay It Forward. Writers are asked to help promote other authors and books through Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and other social media.

From time to time, I will post his interviews and reviews.

****

Interview of M.R. CORNELIUS The Ups and Downs of Being Dead

Fifty-seven year old Robert Malone is the CEO of a successful clothing store chain and married to a former model. When his doctor tells him he is dying of cancer, he refuses to go quietly. Instead of death, Robert chooses cryonics. He knows it’s a long shot. His frozen body will be stored in liquid nitrogen for the next seventy-five years, and then he’ll wake up in the future. Maybe. If technology figures out a way to bring him back.
He’s willing to take that gamble.

GoodReads
Blog

****

Review of Valley of Thracians by Ellis Shuman

This is the story of Simon, a retired professor whose grandson went missing in Bulgaria while there as a member of the Peace Corps. Three years have passed and everyone, including the majority of his family, assumes the young man is dead. Simon refuses to believe it and heads to Bulgaria on his own, intent on finding his grandson, but with no real plan on how he's going to do it.

GoodReads
Blog

****

Interview of Cornell Deville, The Golden Disk

When Richie Armstrong’s mother was murdered, his father went into seclusion, only coming out when he learned of a legendary time-travel device known as the Golden Disk. Sorrow turned to obsession

as Richie and his father traveled the world looking for the one thing that could help, but even with the vast Armstrong fortune and an array of invention prototypes at their disposal, the disk continued to elude them. 

Until, on the eve of his father’s death, they learned the disk was in Peru, part of a cursed stash of Incan treasure. 


Now alone in the world, young Richie Armstrong sets out on the adventure of a lifetime, crossing continents and oceans to find the fabled disk. But Richie’s not the only one looking for it, and if his sworn enemy finds it first, Richie could lose something far more precious.

Amazon
Website

****

Great idea, huh.