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Author Interviews: David H. Reiss, Author of Fid’s Crusade
While growing up, David H. Reiss was that weird kid with his nose in a book and his head in the clouds. He was the table-top role-playing game geek, the comic-book nerd, the story-teller and dreamer.
Fortunately, he hasn’t changed much.
David is a software engineer by trade and a long-time sci-fi and fantasy devotee by passion, and he lives in Silicon Valley with his partner of twenty-six years. Until recently, he also shared his life with a disturbingly spoiled cat named Freya.
(Farewell, little huntress. You were loved. You are missed.)
David’s first book, Fid’s Crusade, has just recently been published; this was his first novel-length project, but it certainly won’t be his last—he’s having far too much fun!
Website Link: https://www.davidhreiss.com
Twitter Link: https://twitter.com/davidhreiss
Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/davidhreiss
BOOK BLURB:
Consumed by grief, rage, and self-loathing, a brilliant inventor rebuilt himself to take on a new identity: the powered-armor-wearing supervillain, Doctor Fid. For twenty violent years, Fid has continued his quest to punish 
heroes who he considers to be unworthy of their accolades, and the Doctor has left a long trail of blood and misery in his wake. After a personal tragedy, however, Doctor Fid investigates a crime and uncovers a conspiracy so terrible that even he is taken aback.
Haunted by painful memories and profound guilt, the veteran supervillain must risk everything to save the world that he once sought to terrorize. Every battle takes its toll…but the stakes are too high for retreat to be an option.
In the end, it may take a villain to save the entire Earth from those entrusted with the Earth’s protection.
Praise:
“Fid’s Crusade by David H. Reiss is one of the most refreshing and lively takes on the superhero genre I’ve seen in years. His title character’s crusade is colorful, compelling, and takes wonderfully unexpected turns, and the novel delivers an impressive emotional punch (to go along with the super-powered ones). It stands easily alongside other character-driven superhero novels like Austin Grossman’s Soon I Will Be Invincible, Carrie Vaughn’s After the Golden Age, and Paul Tobin’s Prepare to Die!.” – Hugo award-winning author Tim Pratt
ORDER YOUR COPY:
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C92PMDH
Q: Welcome to Beyond the Books, David. Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published?
I’ve been writing for most of my life, but Fid’s Crusade was my first published novel; I’ve since published two more books in the series.
Q: When you were published for the first time, which route did you go – mainstream, small press, vanity published or self-published and why or how did you choose this route?
I originally intended to go the mainstream traditional publishing route and had begun the process of seeking representation from a literary agent, but I eventually decided to self-publish instead.
There were several reasons for that choice. For one thing, I’d come to realize that my novel was within a sub-genre that didn’t seem to be getting much attention from the Big Five publishers. For another…I wanted to have printed copies of the novel in time for my Grandmother’s 100th birthday.
I’ve never regretted my decision.
Q: How long did it take you to get published once you signed the contract?
Self-publishing is very quick; it only took a few days once I decided that I had all my files in order.
Q: How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?
It felt simply extraordinary. Getting my first box of paperbacks delivered in the mail was a dream come true.
If I recall correctly, my housemates and I celebrated by going out for a stupidly expensive steak dinner.
Q: What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were published for the first time?
I don’t regret my decision to self-publish, but I often lament the fact that I didn’t have a clear marketing strategy in mind before I started. I flailed about and didn’t really learn my way around advertising for quite a while.
One thing that I *did* do early on was to enter my novel in contests that accepted self-published works. Fid’s Crusade ended up being the winner in the “Science Fiction / Fantasy / Horror” category of the 2018 Publishers Weekly BookLife Prize and was finalist under consideration for the annual grand prize.
Q: Since you’ve been published, how have you grown as a writer and now a published author?
I’m always learning, both in improving my craft as a writer and in slowly learning how to market my works effectively as a self-published author. Getting feedback from my readers has helped me recognize my strengths and to identify aspects of my writing style that I need to work on.
I learned a lot from writing Fid’s Crusade and am proud that I’ve been able to take those lessons and move forward with new projects.
Q: What has surprised or amazed you about the publishing industry as a whole?
It seems remarkably naïve in retrospect, but I have to admit that I didn’t have the slightest clue as to the amount of effort that would be needed in order to market and advertise my novel effectively. I’d had this image in my head that I would simply release my book into the wild and readers would stampede forward to read it.
That isn’t quite the way that it worked out. But I’m learning.
One thing that has amazed me is the remarkable communities of self-published authors that are dedicated towards helping each other succeed. I’ve found facebook groups that teach marketing strategies, resources to find beta readers, etc. It’s simply wonderful how many tremendously successful authors have turned around and tried to share the secrets of their success with their peers.
Q: What is the most rewarding thing about being a published author?
I love getting feedback from my readers. There is nothing quite like the knowledge that I was able to entertain a stranger, that I was able to touch their emotions and inspire them to dream with nothing more than words on a page.
Having fans is the most rewarding thing about being a published author.
Q: Any final words for writers who dream of being published one day?
Read a lot. Write a lot. And learn to cherish critics who are willing to tear your writing apart; you’ll learn more from one person who hates your work (and is willing to tell you why) than you will from a thousand people who love it.
A Conversation with Stephen C. Merlino, author of ‘The Jack of Souls’
Stephen C. Merlino lives in Seattle, WA, where he writes, plays, and teaches high school English. He lives with the world’s most talented and desirable woman, two fabulous children, and three attack chickens.
Growing up in Seattle drove Stephen indoors for eight months of the year. Before the age of video games, that meant he read a lot. At the age of eleven he discovered the stories of J.R.R. Tolkein and fell in love with fantasy.
Summers and rare sunny days he spent with friends in wooded ravines or on the beaches of Puget Sound, building worlds in the sand, and fighting orcs and wizards with driftwood swords.
About the time a fifth reading of The Lord of the Rings failed to deliver the old magic, Stephen attended the University of Washington and fell in love with Chaucer and Shakespeare and all things English. Sadly, the closest he got to England back then was The Unicorn Pub on University Way, which wasn’t even run by an Englishman: it was run by a Scot named Angus. Still, he studied there, and as he sampled Angus’s weird ales, and devoured the Unicorn’s steak & kidney pie (with real offal!), he developed a passion for Scotland, too.
In college, he fell in love with writing, and when a kindly professor said of a story he’d written, “You should get that published!” Stephen took the encouragement literally, and spent the next years trying. The story remains unpublished, but the quest to develop it introduced Stephen to the world of agents (the story ultimately had two), and taught him much of craft and the value of what Jay Lake would call, “psychotic persistence.”
Add to that his abiding love of nerds–those who, as Sarah Vowel defines it, “go too far and care too much about a subject”–and you have Stephen Merlino in a nutshell.
Stephen is the 2014 PNWA winner for Fantasy.
He is also the 2014 SWW winner for Fantasy.
His novel, The Jack of Souls is in its fourth month in the top ten on Amazon’s Children’s Fantasy Sword & Sorcery Best Seller list, and among the top three in Coming-of-Age.
For More Information
- Visit Stephen C. Merlino’s website.
- Connect with Stephen on Facebook and Twitter.
- Find out more about Stephen at Goodreads.
- Contact Stephen.
About the Book:
An outcast rogue named Harric must break a curse laid on his fate or die by his nineteenth birthday.
As his dead-day approaches, nightmares from the spirit world stalk him and tear at his sanity; sorcery eats at his soul.
To survive, he’ll need more than his usual tricks. He’ll need help—and a lot of it—but on the kingdom’s lawless frontier, his only allies are other outcasts. One of these outcasts is Caris, a mysterious, horse-whispering runaway, intent upon becoming the Queen’s first female knight. The other is Sir Willard—ex-immortal, ex-champion, now addicted to pain-killing herbs and banished from the court.
With their help, Harric might keep his curse at bay. But for how long?
And both companions bring perils and secrets of their own: Caris bears the scars of a troubled past that still hunts her; Willard is at war with the Old Ones, an order of insane immortal knights who once enslaved the kingdom. The Old Ones have returned to murder Willard and seize the throne from his queen. Willard is both on the run from them, and on one final, desperate quest to save her.
Together, Harric and his companions must overcome fanatical armies, murderous sorcerers, and powerful supernatural foes.
Alone, Harric must face the temptation of a forbidden magic that could break his curse, but cost him the only woman he’s ever loved.
***
A tale of magic, mischief, and the triumph of tricksters.
For More Information
- The Jack of Souls is available at Amazon.
- Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
- Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
- Watch book trailer at YouTube.
- Watch Kickstarter video at YouTube.
- Read Chapter One here.
Q: Welcome to Beyond the Books, Stephen. Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published?
The Jack of Souls is my first novel, and first in a fantasy series.
Q: When you were published for the first time, which route did you go – mainstream, small press, vanity published or self-published and why or how did you choose this route?
After years of courting agents and editors, with small success, I began entering The Jack of Souls in literary contests. It was finalist in a number of contests, then it placed, and in 2014 it actually won the Pacific Northwest Writers Association award for fantasy (PNWA is a very large competition), and a month later it won the Southwest Writers award for fantasy. Additionally, Wattpad asked if they could make it a Featured novel.
It started to dawn on me that the only people that really matter in determining if a book is any good is the reader, and if readers liked the book enough to buy it and recommend it to others, then maybe I didn’t need an agent’s blessing after all.
So I ran a Kickstarter (a TON of work and a TON of fun—met supportive and generous people from 17 different countries), found a great artist (Jakub Rozalski), hired editors and formatters, and in the space of a few months I had ebook, paperback, and hardback up on Amazon.
I am extremely grateful to report that within a couple months it appeared in the top ten of several Amazon ebook bestseller lists. It kind of floored me, actually. Turns out, fantasy readers like it! Woohoo!
Today, it has a 4.5-star rating with over 50 reviews, and recently it received a 5-star rating from Midwest Book Review. I could not be more humbled and thankful for that. Indie publishing turned out to be a fantastic decision for me. I’m finally reaching readers and hearing back from them.
Q: How long did it take you to get published once you signed the contract?
It took me maybe three months to publish it. It was a lot of work—don’t get me wrong—but three months isn’t long at all. I understand that the big five corporate publishing houses take upwards of a year to publish a book; if I’m not mistaken, a year is fast for them. They have a lot more people involved at every level, choosing, asking, seeking permissions from higher-ups, making decisions, back-and-forthing, etc., so it isn’t surprising. When it’s just me orchestrating a team of folks I hire, things are bound to move a lot faster.
Q: How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?
I felt relieved! Finally, I could move on to the second book in the series, The Knave of Souls. I aim to release it at the end of August 2015. J
To celebrate, my wife and I took the kids out to dinner, rode go-carts, and played laser tag in a fog-lit maze. Awesome.
Q: What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were published for the first time?
I bought a copy of The Book Reviewer Yellow Pages and started sending queries to get bloggers to review the book. Turns out, it’s a lot like querying agents, but with (for me) a lot more positive results. Book bloggers are another fun group of people to work with.
Q: Since you’ve been published, how have you grown as a writer and now a published author?
I’ve gained weight. No, really. Something had to go, and it was exercise. Publishing and publicizing is a whole other layer of work to be done on top of writing, my teaching job, and family life.
Q: What has surprised or amazed you about the publishing industry as a whole?
There is so much creativity and love of the craft in this industry! It feeds the soul. Good people, sharing information, learning together about something we love.
Q: What is the most rewarding thing about being a published author?
Reaching readers and hearing from them is the best thing about publishing a novel. Hands down. Writing can be such a lonely occupation. To reach a reader and hear an echo coming back from the void, that’s affirmation and connection. In that moment it goes from monologue to dialogue, from solitude to community, from “Sound and fury signifying nothing” to “Hey, that’s pretty good. Let’s talk about that!”
For me that’s where it’s at.
Q: Any final words for writers who dream of being published one day?
Read a lot. Write a lot. Find a good critique group so you can learn from other writers and readers. Refine. Revise. Repeat. J
Book Blitz! Climbing for Roots by Alan Noble
Title: Climbing for Roots
Author: Alan Noble
Genre: Religion/Spiritual Growth/Christian Life
Publisher: Axiom
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/climbing-for-roots-alan-noble/1118630853
Alan R. Noble is a born-again Christian, schooled in the Word since childhood. He was fortunate to sit under capable preaching and teaching throughout his life. His passion for the spiritual welfare of young people grew out of his years of work experience, and his understanding of the Scriptures. He realizes that young Christians need instruction in the meat as well as the milk of the Word (Hebrews 5:12-14).
Mr. Noble was educated at William Paterson University, a liberal arts institute in Northern New Jersey, and received a B.A. in education, with a certificate to teach elementary school. Later, he received an M.A. in Communication Arts, and a certificate in supervision. He worked as an educator for 31 years.
After his retirement from public education Mr. Noble enjoyed teaching in Christian Schools in New Jersey and Texas.
These days find Alan and his wife Kathie enjoying their travels between Kansas City and northern New Jersey as they visit their daughters’ families that include six beautiful grandchildren.
• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive the prize.
• This giveaway begins November 3 and ends on November 28, 2014.
• Winner will be contacted via email on December 1, 2014.
• Winner has 72 hours to reply.
• VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
Good luck everyone!
ENTER TO WIN!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Character Interview: Savannah Evans from Gary Rodriguez’s Tween/YA Adventure Novel, ‘Escape Through The Wilderness’
Thank you so much for this interview, Savi. Now that the book has been written, do you feel you were fairly portrayed or would you like to set anything straight with your readers?
I do think I was portrayed fairly and accurately throughout the book. I believe I am a strong and compassionate person who values friendships and holds deep spiritual convictions. The book did a good job of showing my inclination toward leadership, my passion for faith, and my feelings about friendships. The story also revealed why I’ve been carrying some deep hurt inside of me the last several months.
I’d also like to make sure the readers know that I feel badly about what I did to Jade during the elk stampede. Especially, after I found out all she’d been through before arriving at Camp Arrowhead. I wish there was a way I could take that moment back. That was a real low point for me.
What do you believe is your strongest trait?
I’d have to say my faith. Some people are ashamed to let others know they believe in God and read the Bible. I’m not ashamed of that at all. As a matter of fact, I’m proud of it.
Life is full of challenges. When I face trouble, I know where to turn for help. It has always been a comfort to know that I don’t have to face life’s difficulties alone.
In today’s culture, being a Christian, especially from the South, often has a stigma attached to it. But I love who I am and where I’m from, and I’m grateful for my conservative southern upbringing. But I try not to be a “preachy” person. I think it’s more important to live out what I believe than just to talk about it. That said, when my friends ask me questions about my faith, then I’m happy to share with them.
Worse trait?
I get impatient at times. My impatience was evident when I thought Jade was asking me too many questions during a particularly trying situation.
When I look back on the incident I know she was just scared, like we all were, and needed some help and reassurance. I could have handled myself a lot better.
If you could choose someone in the television or movie industry to play your part, if your book were made into a movie, who would that be (and you can’t say yourself!)?
The most important thing for me is that the actress portrayed my faith and values accurately. That would ensure they would represent me, in a way, that is credible and in keeping with who I am.
If I had to pick a random person I’ve never met, I think I’d choose either Shailene Woodley, an American actress, starring in Divergent or Ella Purnell, an English actress, you may have seen in Maleficent.
They’re both great actresses, and I’d be honored to have either of them choose to play me in the movie version of Escape Through The Wilderness.
At what point of the book did you start getting nervous about the way it was going to turn out?
Honestly, I was nervous from the time we started the river-rafting trip, especially after the accident. It was very scary for the four of us to be alone in the wilderness and so far away from camp. But things really got bad after Rico and Conner got hurt. That’s when I started to think “there’s no way we’re going to make it back to camp alive.” However, I decided it was best to keep those thoughts to myself.
If you could trade places with one of the other characters in the book, which character would you really not want to be and why?
I think I’d have to say Conner. When I first met him, he was a bully, and I detest bullies. Then he seemed weak and ineffective when we got in trouble on the river. Eventually, he changed into someone I actually liked. But if I had to choose, he’s the one I’d least want to be.
How do you feel about the ending of the book without giving too much away?
It was a difficult but awesome ending. It leaves readers uncertain about the outcome until the last few pages. It’s one of those dramatic and suspenseful endings that I wouldn’t change for the world. I’m convinced that readers will love it. There’s no way you can guess how things will turn out. Even I was fooled.
What words of wisdom would you give your author if he decided to write another book with you in it?
Create another thrilling adventure. Escape Through The Wilderness was so exciting and intense. I’d like to see the sequel match the level of intensity found in the first book. I think readers will expect that. I happen to know the author quite well, and he listens to my input. I’ll make sure he makes the sequel at least as good as Escape Through The Wilderness.
Thank you for this interview, Savi. Will we see more of you in the future?
I’m not trying to be elusive, but you’ll have to read the first book to find out. I will say this is the first book in the series. Look for the second book sometimes around the summer of 2015.
Before I go, I want to thank you for taking time to interview me. I hope your readers enjoy the book.
Finally, Escape Through The Wilderness is the kind of book that was written to impact and inspire readers. If you read the book and enjoy it, please consider buying a copy for a friend. Good friends have given me several of my favorite books. Sharing a good story is a special way to bless someone.
Thanks again for your time.
Savi Evans
Gary Rodriguez is president of LeaderMetrix Inc., a consulting company that specializes in senior-level executive coaching, organizational development and conflict resolution. He is the author of the new adventure novel Escape through the Wilderness scheduled for release in June 2014.
His first book Purpose-Centered Public Speaking was an instant hit and recently republished by Tate Publishing.
His extensive resume includes eighteen years as an executive in the radio business where he spent several years as one of the original managers of Infinity Broadcasting. He was twice nominated as medium market manager of the year by the Bobby Poe report, a national media publication.
For over thirty-five years, Gary has spoken in public both nationally and internationally. Gary’s resume includes a season in the U.S. Army where he was highly decorated as the youngest Drill Instructor in the Army’s history at age 18 years. He was also awarded the Silver Star (the nation’s third highest award for valor) while serving in Viet Nam.
For more information about Escape Through The Wilderness please visit: http://ettw.tateauthor.com or http://leadermetrix.com/authorspeaker/
Unlocking Your Spiritual Greatness Book Blitz – Win $25 Amazon Gift Card
Guest post: The Inspiration Behind ‘When Shmack Happens’ by Amber Neben
Where did I get the inspiration to write When SHMACK Happens? I hit the wall, and I hit it HARD!! My life, my goals, and my next steps were redirected in a span of a few seconds. Prior to impact, I was on target to win that huge race at The Tour of California, and I was plotting ahead to more cycling goals, maybe even the 2016 Olympic Games. After the impact, I laid on the pavement while my body screamed at me because it hurt… SEVERELY. Blood poured out of my nose and other parts of me. I was scared and messed up. But I was awake, and I could move.
In the midst of the pain and fear that filled me on the side of the road and then in the ambulance, I clung to Jesus. I didn’t understand why or what had just happened. I didn’t want to be headed to a trauma center, and I definitely didn’t want to have my dreams cut short by another obstacle. But I clung. And He filled me with His strength.
Honestly, it was a miracle to walk away, and a miracle how fast I recovered. But even more incredible was that in the aftermath of the crash, I had a peace and a stillness of spirit that was beyond me. I was very limited to what I could do. Simply moving was difficult for a few weeks. However, in spite of the physical trauma I was dealing with, my mind was incredibly clear and crisp, and my heart was not anxious.
I began to think about writing my story, and then God began to pound on my heart “write the story that I have written into your life.” I had always wanted to write a book, but I had never felt the inspiration to do it until the initial days after the crash. Although there was a definite tug on my heart to write, I still continued to doubt that I could do it. I also wasn’t completely convinced I was hearing God accurately, and I only wanted to embark on the journey with His help. So for two weeks, I prayed often about the idea.
Finally, or desperately, after two weeks of talking to God about everything, I prayed a Gideon like prayer at 5AM. I know it was 5AM, because I remember checking my phone before getting up to use the bathroom. My prayer when I laid back down was, “God, if I am hearing you correctly, have Jenna Sampson email me.” Jenna had written some articles about me for Sports Spectrum, and she would occasionally check on me. She had promised almost 7 years prior that she would help me write if I ever wanted to. I hadn’t hea
rd from her in almost a year, but when I got out of bed that same morning, I had an email from Jenna arriving at 5:16AM. Confirmed. I needed to write.
And yes, I needed to write! There was no way a ghost writer or another author could truly understand my journey or share those intimate lessons I had learned as I had been walking, struggling, or standing firm in Christ through all the storms. So I met with Jenna, who agreed to act as my editor, I started praying for words and eloquence, and I embarked on writing WHEN SHMACK HAPPENS.
Link to crash: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4z_6qDX_Yh8
Amber Neben is a decorated international road cyclist with victories in 11 countries and multiple UCI Category 1 stage race wins. She is a 2x Olympian, 2x World Champion, 2x Pan American Champion and 2x National Champion. She holds a B.S. from The University of Nebraska and an M.S. from UC Irvine. Amber and her husband, Jason, reside in Lake Forest, CA. For information on speaking engagements or coaching visit amberneben.com.
Character Interview: Mama Ringtail from Sylvie Michaud’s Bedtime Story ‘Book of Dreams’
We’re thrilled to be talking to Mama Ringtail from North Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Thank you so much for this interview, Mama Ringtail. Now that the book has been written, do you feel you were fairly portrayed or would you like to set anything straight with your readers?
I like how I was portrayed. The author set me in an environment that I feel comfortable with, natural and green, so I could be myself. Raccoons are very family oriented, so being able to spend so much time with my son and partner exploring the natural world felt great!
What do you believe is your strongest trait?
My strongest trait is my ability to live in a world that is constantly changing but stay in the present moment at the same time.
Worst trait?
Oh, I suppose I could be better at making plans for the future.
If you could choose someone in the television or movie industry to play your part if your book was made into a movie, who would that be (and you can’t say yourself!)?
Angelina Jolie as a voice over.
At what point of the book did you start getting nervous about the way it was going to turn out?
I can’t say that I felt nervous. There were no warning signs that our adventures were going to go sideways. Although, I was a bit concerned when Papa and Baby Ringtail were so close to the grizzly bears.
If you could trade places with one of the other characters in the book, which character would you really not want to be and why?
I think it would be hard to be Baby Ringtail. Children are so dependent on the environment they find themselves growing up in. It’s a wild world out there!
How do you feel about the ending of the book without giving too much away?
It ends as it should, with a feeling of security and safety.
What words of wisdom would you give your author if s/he decided to write another book with you in it?
I would say to keep true to the heart and let that guide the story.
Thank you for this interview, Mama Ringtail. Will we be seeing more of you in the future?
Yes you will. In fact, I can be found in the two other titles that make up the Ringtail Series, the Book of Love and the Book of Wishes.
Purchase at:
Amazon soft cover: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Dreams-The-Ringtail-Family/dp/0978295587
Amazon digital: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Dreams-The-Ringtail-Family-ebook/dp/B00BTPBX0Q
B&N soft cover: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/book-of-dreams-the-ringtail-family-sylvie-michaud/1110202903
Sylvie Michaud is a North Vancouver, BC based writer and graphic designer. After years as a writer, editor and designer for The Canadian Red Cross Society newsletter, “The Responder”, Sylvie has gone on to write for several other groups & magazines including Pacific Yachting, GardenWise and the North Shore’s own Lynn Valley Literary anthology, “Wintertide.”
In 2011, Sylvie won the Lynn Valley Literary Society’s short story contest for “Fire and Fortune.”
In addition to her literary background, Sylvie is the ower of Blackbarn Crafts where she designs, produces and sells handmade crafts for crafts shows and other online venues.
Learn more about Sylvie Michaud and the Ringtail Family collection at www.craftycanuck.com and http://shop.craftycanuck.com/
Character Interview: Arkas from K. Madill’s YA Fantasy Novel ‘The Stolen Herd’ – Win $25 Amazon Gift Card
We’re thrilled to be talking to Arkas from Green Forest, Deep Forest, The Silver City, Harshlands, Azure Caves, Elphinstone Mountains…hey, he has wings – he gets around.
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00068]](https://beyondthebooks.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/the-stolen-herd.jpg)
Thank you so much for this interview, Arkas. Now that the book has been written, do you feel you were fairly portrayed or would you like to set anything straight with your readers?
Arkas: It was moderately accurate. She (the author) missed how utterly terrified Mandamus and Luco were when we first met. It was their own fault. They blundered into my territory, so I attacked them. It was written a little more comically than it actually was. Those two were scared out of their minds. I thought that human, Luco, was going to cry and Mandamus may look like a big, tough horse but he was shaking in his hooves.
What do you believe is your strongest trait?
Arkas: My strength, agility, wingspan, and fighting skills. Not to mention …I can breathe fire!
Worse trait?
Arkas: Well, I have been called short tempered. But I don’t see that as a bad thing at all.
If you could choose someone in the television or movie industry to play your part if your book was made into a movie, who would that be (and you can’t say yourself!)?
Arkas: Probably… Christian Bale. He was a pretty darn good Batman…and seeing as I’m an actual bat, I feel the transition would go smoothly.
At what point of the book did you start getting nervous about the way it was going to turn out?
Arkas: I must admit, I did get a little worried when we were attached by Aicha, that dirty slug of a water imp. I wasn’t sure I could take him by myself, he’s pretty quick. Just in the nick of time, Gideon showed up and helped me out, thank goodness.
If you could trade places with one of the other characters in the book, which character would you really not want to be and why?
Arkas: I definitely would not want to be Luco. Alright, granted, for a human he’s not that bad…but he has only two legs and can’t fly. He also doesn’t have the nerve to tell that naiad, Lethe, that he likes her. Even after he built her that glass room at the Gates to the Underworld! He just hangs around mooning over her until Mandamus’ hoof heals, then we leave. Pathetic, if you ask me. I might have to do a little matchmaking there.
How do you feel about the ending of the book without giving too much away?
Arkas: Hey, Luco may be complaining because he’s afraid of getting eaten, but I’m full on ready to journey to the Azure Caves to see King Farzad and the rest of the Snowbreth tribe. They’re supposedly man-eating monsters, but Gideon wouldn’t have sent us there if that was the case. I will tell you this though – if they do try anything, they’ll be sorry!
What words of wisdom would you give your author if s/he decided to write another book with you in it?
Arkas: If? I’m one of the three main characters of this story so she’d BETTER have me in it. Hmm…words of wisdom….well, I would like to get back to Luco’s village for more cherry stars and fire whiskey though that’s more of a suggestion, I guess.
Thank you for this interview, Arkas. Will we be seeing more of you in the future?
Arkas: Of course. Those two (Mandamus and Luco) couldn’t last a day without me. Why, you should see what those dunderheads got themselves into just last week. Only, you’ll have to wait for the 2nd book to find out – ha!
Purchase on AMAZON
A chronic “head in the cloudser” K. Madill lives in a rickety house on a well treed street in British Columbia, Canada. When she’s not hanging out with her best equine friend in the woods she can be found trying to stay upright on her roller skates or mediating the affairs of her various furred and feathered friends that rule the aforementioned rickety house.
K. Madill’s website: kmadill.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/K-Madill/161159890706088
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaraiMadill1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20643483-the-stolen-herd
Pump Up Your Book and K. Madill are teaming up to give away
a $25 Amazon Gift Card!
Terms and conditions:
- By entering, you confirm you are 18 years of age or older.
- Raffle runs from 12:00 AM EST on June 2 through 12:00 AM EST on June 28, 2014.
- Winner will be selected randomly by Rafflecopter.
- Winner will be notified by email and has 72 hours to claim the prize before a new winner is selected.
- Prize will be sent via email from the author’s representative.
- VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.
Rebuilding Civilization on the Bible Book Blitz – Win $25 Amazon Gift Card
Title: Rebuilding Civilization on the Bible: Proclaiming the Truth on 24 Controversial Issues
Author: Jay Grimstead
Genre: Religion/Theology/Instruction
Publisher: Nordskog Publishing, Inc.
ISBN: 978-0-9882976-5-4
Purchase at: http://www.nordskogpublishing.com/book-rebuilding-civilization.shtml
About the book:
False teachings threatening to corrupt the Church forced the leaders to join in councils, where they codified the orthodox teaching of the Bible into creeds received by the Church as faithful distillations of Scriptural truth and as a bulwark against future corruption. Error, heresy, and outright paganism are today common in churches that were once sound. Even many “better” churches have little depth to their teaching and are silent on critical issues of the day, and even in some paganism masquerades as Christianity.
This book is the fruit of the work of hundreds of theologians and Christian leaders working throughout a 37-year period to define and defend the key Biblical points on 24 controversial issues — which would not even be controversial if all believed like Jesus and Paul in the inerrancy of the Bible.
This book states the Bible’s position on 24 controversial issues and explains why each document needed to be written. It offers the global Body of Christ tools for reforming the Church and motivating Christians to live in obedience to Christ and to all commands in the Bible intended for us.
Excerpt:
“We heartily invite all Christians on this planet who desire to live in obedience to the Bible in all areas of life at all times, to form themselves and their local churches into “United Spiritual Armies” at the city and county levels, and to establish a network with other such churches and “spiritual armies” at their state and national levels with the goal of making Christ King of their cities and nation. We invite you to join with us in applying these 24 DOCUMENTS to the life of the Church and in making 2 Cor. 10:5 a reality. By that we mean that together we are called by God to destroy “speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
About the author:
Dr. Jay Grimstead was born in Bismarck, ND. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 1957 from Sterling College in Sterling, KS. He graduated from Fuller Seminary in 1961 with a Masters in Theology (ThM) and later received a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree. He spent 20 years on staff with Young Life Campaign, a ministry of clubs and camping to evangelize and disciple non-church teenagers.
In 1984 he founded the Coalition on Revival which created the 17 World-view Documents which state the biblical principles for the various spheres of life and the “blueprints for how the Bible applies to the fields of: Law, Government, Economics, Education, Science, the Media & Arts, Medicine, etc.” Under his leadership, COR organized the International Church Council Project in 1992.
In 2004 and 2005 he organized theological committees in Guatemala, San Salvador, Costa Rica and Panama to discuss and defend certain of the 22 Theological Documents of the Church Council Project which had been translated into Spanish. A year later, Dr. Grimstead gathered national leaders from various fields to create the “24 Year Plan to Rebuild America upon the principles of the Bible.”
Dr. Grimstead now lives with his wife, Donna, a registered pharmacist, in Murphys, CA. They have two grown children, Julie and Guy. Dr. Grimstead’s favorite hobbies are mountain climbing and playing jazz and blues on his trumpet.
To learn more about Dr. Grimstead and his work, please visit http://www.nordskogpublishing.com/book-rebuilding-civilization.shtml
Pump Up Your Book and Dr. Jay are teaming up to give away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!
Terms & Conditions:
- By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
- This giveaway begins June 2 and ends on June 27, 2014.
- Winner will be contacted via email by July 2, 2014.
- Winner has 72 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!
ENTER TO WIN!
Tactics, Trends, & Traits of the Enemy Book Blitz – Win $25 Amazon Gift Card
Title: Tactics, Trends, & Traits of the Enemy
Author: Jermaine Gadson
Genre: Spiritual
Publisher:Crossbooks – Division of LifeWay(June 2014)
ISBN: 9781462736362—Hard Cover
ISBN: 9781462736355—Soft Cover
ISBN: 9781462736348—eBook
Pre-order at: http://www.amazon.com/PRE-ORDER-Tactics-Trends-Equipping-Believer/dp/1462736351/
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Tactics, Trends, & Traits of the Enemy by author Jermaine Gadson is a must have resource for believers who want to be well equipped to be victorious against the strategies of the devil. The devil is cunning and deceptive, and he will stop at nothing to keep God’s people from reaching their potential in Christ. In this book, Pastor Gadson discusses how the enemy uses temptation, seduction, fear, isolation, guilt, shame, and other such things in order to steal and destroy a person’s life. Satan works tirelessly through various means and mechanisms to keep sinners from hearing and being receptive of the Word of God, in order to prevent them from being saved. If you have family or friends who are not born-again, this resource will help you to identify schemes that the enemy may be using to keep your loved ones from being saved. This book is intended to equip the Body of Christ to wage a good warfare against the strategies of the enemy. It is not God’s will for His people to be taken advantage of by the enemy because of ignorance. This book exposes who the enemy is, what he has done, what he is doing, and what he will try to do in the future, as an enemy of God’s people. This book is written for the everyday believer to be able to understand and use. However, it is also a helpful tool for Christian leaders to be able to identify specific ways in which the enemy desires to attack them in order to steal their influence, kill their destiny, and destroy their reputation and ministries. In this regard, it is an encouragement to the Body of Christ to guard and protect their spiritual leaders.
Excerpt:
Know Your Enemy
Before engaging in battle of any kind, it is very important to be familiar with the opposition. The more you know about your enemy, the greater you will be equipped to fight against them and be victorious. Knowing your enemy includes being knowledgeable of their strengths, weaknesses, habits, origin, and the like. When you are knowledgeable about your adversary, you become empowered to develop a plan of action or strategy to adequately defend against their opposition, overcome their threats and defensive mechanisms, and ultimately defeat them.
Athletes and those who follow sports are familiar and acquainted with this principle. Coaches and players spend hours upon hours viewing video recordings of not only their own team, but of their upcoming opponents as well. They view recordings to evaluate their own strengths and weaknesses as revealed by previous games, and they do the same to identify strengths and weaknesses of the next team they have to face.
This principle is certainly pertinent in the area of the military as well. No military general, or top ranking official who has authority over military personnel will in their right mind authorize the use of military force without adequate information concerning the enemy to be attacked. Right decisions require right information. This is especially true if you want to come out victorious and on top.
Now that we can see the importance of this principle from a natural standpoint, it makes sense that this would also apply spiritually in relation to how we are to do battle with our spiritual enemy. As you read this book, I hope that you will be able to see the importance of this material in helping you towards this very end. The reason this book is so important is because the person reading it is like a ballplayer looking at tape of his or her opponent or a military general gathering intelligence on a terrorist organization.
When you know where your enemy came from, what your enemy has done in the past, and what your enemy is presently capable of, you are more readily prepared to wage a good warfare and defeat him in any present or future encounters you may have.
VIEW THE TRAILER AT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNfV81_SD0s
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jermaine Gadson is the Senior Pastor of Faith Ministries, Inc., a non-traditional church located in Birmingham, AL. Prior to starting Faith Ministries, he served as an associate minister, youth minister, and pastor for local churches and ministries in the greater Birmingham area. While, growing up in the Baptist church, he gave his life to Christ at an early age, and is a third generation minister of the Gospel.
He holds a B.A. in Religion with a Concentration in Congregational Studies and a Minor in Classics from Samford University, and a Master of Divinity from Beeson Divinity School of Samford University. He is currently a Doctor of Ministry student at Beeson Divinity School.
Gadson enjoys reading, writing, sports, outdoors, movies, and spending time with his family. He is happily married to his wife Kristy and they have one beautiful daughter, Khloe.
Visit Pastor Gadson online at www.JermaineGadson.com.
Pump Up Your Book and Jermaine are teaming up to give away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!
Terms & Conditions:
- By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
- One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive each of the prizes
- This giveaway begins May 19 and ends on May 31, 2014.
- Winners will be contacted via email on June 2, 2014.
- Winner has 72 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!
ENTER TO WIN!
Tactics, Trends, & Traits of the Enemy Book Blitz Schedule
May 19
Cheryl’s Christian Book Connection
May 20
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May 30
Beyond the Books 