Fantastical Musings

Featured today on Fourth Wall Friday at The Cabin Goddess!

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Fri, 03 May 2013 13:46:00 +0000

I'm on my way to Mo*Con in Indianapolis today, where I have the great honor of being a Guest of Honor. Looking forward to it very much! But I wanted to be sure to leave this link to a new mega-post I did for Fourth Wall Friday at the Cabin Goddess!

This theme blends the world of an author's books with their own world, and this post has a serious theme that resonates strongly with the Rising Dawn Saga. I really think readers of my series will appreciate this post a lot, and for those that haven't read the series, this will definitely give you a taste of some of the themes found in the books.

http://cabingoddess.com/2013/05/a-midnight-walk-with-stephen-zimmer-fourth-wall-friday/

Special Project from Wonderful YA Author Dianne Lynne Gardner

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:27:00 +0000

I wanted to take a moment to highlight an ongoing Kickstarter project that is within its final week of funding, in the hopes that everyone will take a look at it and consider participating.

Dianne Lynn Gardner is a highly gifted author AND artist (talk about being able to coordinate with your cover artist! LOL). I gladly gave her a blurb to use on the first book of her Ians Realm Saga, Deception Peak. I really believe she's got a great series going, and it has a very good home with a publisher, Hydra Publications, run by a guy who I've known for awhile and can attest to his great commitment and support of authors.

If you would take a moment to watch Dianne's video here and consider taking part, it would be greatly appreciated. The rewards included some artwork and prints, and I can tell you that Dianne's artwork is truly top level!

The project supports her series, and I can tell you the economics of publishing and putting titles out is tougher than ever today if you are doing it the right way. It is a worthy series, with a worthy publisher, so check it out and explore Ian's Realm! :)

Vampires Don't Sparkle Cover Reveal, Includes New Short Story

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 17:44:00 +0000

Vampires Don't Sparkle Cover Reveal, Includes New Short Story

The Vampires Don't Sparkle! cover has been revealed today, created by the award-winning Matt Perry! I'm excited about this anthology project! My short story "The Excavation" is included in this anthology, which features some incredible authors like Gary A. Braunbeck, Tim Waggoner, Maurice Broaddus, Lucy A. Snyder, Bob Freeman, and many more.

The editor is none other than Michael West! AND a portion of proceeds from the sale of this anthology go to cancer research, which is a very personal thing to me (my dad was a cancer researcher, for those of you that might not know).

There's a pre-order window up for one week for those wanting copies signed by the editor. This anthology is definitely for those who like vampires of the non-sparkly kind! ;)

To see the full press release with a list of authors and stories, go here: http://seventhstarpress.blogspot.com/2013/03/for-immediate-release-march-6-2013.html

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:41:00 +0000

Week 28: THE NEXT BIG THING BLOG HOP

This week I am getting the opportunity to participate in a large blog hop that has been going on for 28 weeks now focusing on the world of independent authors. Everyone knows about the big successes in the book world, but there are many inventive, engaging, and highly creative authors out there that you might not have heard of, and this blog hop works to address that.

It plays like a game of tag, where authors tag other authors from week to week. Each author does a post like the one I am doing today, selects some other authors, and the process continues. Following the links of this blog hop will bring you to the pages of some wonderful authors.

I was tagged by two wonderful authors, A.J. Scudiere and Kathryn Sullivan. I have had the pleasure of doing book signings with A.J. Scudiere, and being a co-panelist at conventions with Kathryn, and can definitely say both of them are well-worth checking out when you get a moment!

You can visit A.J.'s site and find out more about her world at: http://www.ajscudiere.com A.J.'s Next Big Thing post is at: http://www.ajscudiere.com/blog/2013/01/the-next-big-thing-blog-hop/

For Kathryn, visit: http://kathrynsullivan.com/, and you can see her Next Big Thing post at: http://obscurekidlitauthors.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-next-big-thing.html

As for myself, I am an author of speculative fiction as well as a filmmaker. I have two series underway, the epic fantasy Fires in Eden Series, and the urban fantasy Rising Dawn Saga. I also write steampunk, with the Harvey and Solomon tales, and horror, with the soon-to-be-released Hellscapes stories. Each of my series have 3 novels out, for a total of six in print, and I have many short stories ranging from the aforementioned Harvey and Solomon tales, to stories in my Chronicles of Ave and Annals of the Rising Dawn collections, and more. My site can be found at www.stephenzimmer.com and you can connect with me at Facebook here On twitter, my handle is @sgzimmer

For my participation in the blog hop, I am using my most current project, the 4th Book in the Rising Dawn Saga which will be coming out later this spring. Here's 10 questions I addressed regarding this upcoming book!

1: What is the working title of your book?

I tend to drive my editors crazy when it comes to titles, as I never settle with one until it pops clearly and loudly into my head. I've run on the razor's edge before, with a title coming in just days before it had to be in. Right now, I'm working on the 4th title in the Rising Dawn Saga. That's the most accurate way I can title it, as I have not had that big moment of revelation yet! LOL

2: Where did the idea come from for the book?

The idea came as I started to put two and two together in the early 1990's, watching the development of the Gulf War, thinking about how the world was changing, and delving deeper into history. I was just getting into things like Coast to Coast AM at the time, with all of the fascinating topics covered by Art Bell.

I began to wonder what it would be like if a host of a radio show like Art's was pulled into a scenario where he discovered that many of the things he talked about and did shows on were real, from shadow governments, to spiritual entities and non-physical realms, and more. I've always been fascinated by the apocalyptic visions in the Bible, and out of all this the seed of the Rising Dawn Saga was discovered and then planted.

3: What genre does your book fall under?

It is classified as urban fantasy, due to the modern day setting, but it is cross-genre in many ways, and it has a true epic scale. There are elements of horror, science fiction, mythic fiction, fantasy, urban fantasy, military thriller, and more, which makes it hard to classify exactly. Of course, bookstores and online outlets need to categorize things, so in a general sense urban fantasy is the closest fit.

4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

There are many actors who I would like to work with if a film version were made. Perhaps Jason Mamoa as the An-Ki warrior Godral. How about John Malkovich for Benedict Darwin? Kate Beckinsale for Dagian Underwood? It definitely is a lot of fun to speculate, but to translate the scale of this story to the screen would require quite a large budget! LOL

5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

In the shadow of an increasingly dystopian world nearing the edge of an apocalypse, a number of humans and other entities find themselves at the center of a cosmic war.

6: Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

This series is published via small press, namely through Seventh Star Press. I love working with Amanda Debord, the editor for this series, as well as Matthew Perry, the artist who does the covers and interiors. The other SSP authors have been very supportive and it has been great being a member of this family!

7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I've been working on the series since the mid-1990's, but I'd estimate what became The Exodus Gate took a couple of years to finish in a first draft form. It wasn't the only project I was working on, but that's the general timeline.

8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

It is hard to find a close comparison due to the cross-genre nature of this story. I would say it has the size of ensemble and large scale of something like George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire, has the cosmic elements of something like Paradise Lost, and engages a modern setting with fantastical undercurrents like Jim Butcher's Dresden novels. It really is hard to compare it in one easy sentence, which is both a blessing and a curse!

9: Who or What inspired you to write this book?

Becoming more of a student of history, having a fantastical mindset, and watching what has been happening in the world around me, I wanted to explore some themes of great relevance today within the context of a story like this. As with all my work, it can be read on different levels. It can give you something to think about, it can warn you about some things, it can be enjoyed purely as an entertaining story, or perhaps it can encourage you. For myself, I wanted to address ideals that are very near and dear to me in a story-driven context. That definitely got the ball rolling back in the 1990's.

10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

This book, like the series, really blends several genres into a cohesive storyline. I've had hard science fiction readers who have enjoyed the books of this series, readers that don't like speculative fiction normally who have enjoyed them, strict epic fantasy readers who have enjoyed them, and other examples that demonstrate the unique appeal of this storyline.

Here are a pair of authors who will be joining the hop for week 29! Definitely visit their sites, find out more about them, and perhaps discover a new favorite author in the process! I thought I would have some fun and pick two who have been particularly mischievous lately in their support of an initiative by Selah Janel to petition me to write something in the erotic romance genre. So I'm putting both on the spotlight. Of course, both are excellent writers who I absolutely adore and have had the pleasure of being on panels with and having on panels I've organized!

Susan Roddey: Susan writes speculative fiction with a focus on horror and urban fantasy. You can connect with her at the following:

Blog: http://creepyauthorgirl.Wordpress.com

Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/authorshroddey

Twitter: @draickinphoenix

Alexandra Christian: While Alexandra is known for her work in paranormal erotic romance, she is also a writer of horror and dark fiction. Connect with Alexandra at the following links.

Facebook:

Facebook Fan Page:

Twitter:

Wordpress Blog:

The Year Behind and the Year Ahead

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 21:43:00 +0000

Of course I'm a week behind in getting up a New Year-style post, so I'll make it a good and thorough one!

So here goes...

Last year was definitely my best year yet author-wise. It saw the release of Spirit of Fire, the third book in my Fires in Eden Series, and there were a number of very enjoyable and successful convention appearances ranging from Mid South Con, to ConNooga, to MystiCon and others. I also served as the literary track director for Fandom Fest during what was a breakthrough year for the event that saw over 16,000 attendees and guest stars like Sean Astin, John-Rhys Davies, and many others. I did my biggest ever promotional campaign for Spirit of Fire in a 48 day blog tour, which involved a number of fun posts and videos.

I made many new friends, some of whom I will be doing some close work with in the future. In the last part of the year I was part of a Kickstarter Campaign that secured a wonderful project for Seventh Star Press called the Writers Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy, which features contributors like Neil Gaiman and Orson Scott Card. The editor for the project, Michael Knost, is a wonderful fellow and I definitely hope we work together more in the future. I'm looking forward to working on the promotions for the release of this project very soon.

2013 looks to be extremely productive on the writing front. A new Rising Dawn Saga book will be out sometime in the Spring, and we are hoping to squeeze in the next Fires in Eden Book before the year is out. In addition, there will be a number of short stories released, from steampunk (latest Harvey and Solomon tale Gift of Light to appear in Dreams of Steam III), to horror (my new Hellscapes series), to epic fantasy (several new additions coming to the Chronicles of Ave), to urban fantasy (several new additions coming for the Annals of the Rising Dawn). There is also a very good chance that the first book of a new YA cross-genre trilogy will move forward this year.

With all of the writing and commitments I have, my appearance schedule may be a little more modest than it has been in the past. I am slated for several wonderful events, and will be returning to ConNooga, Mid South Con, MystiCon, and others, as well as doing a literary track again for Fandom Fest.

I also plan to do a little more blogging, especially with some non-fiction topics. As those who read my Rising Dawn Saga would probably guess, I don't have the most positive of outlooks regarding the direction the world is heading in. Along those lines, I think my home country, the US, is chugging straight for the proverbial iceberg. Even worse, it appears that the US is accelerating towards a very disastrous situation.

While all of this gives me a great deal to think about in regards to the themes I write on, there is a frustrating side to it as well. I've long thought that true journalism is largely dead when it comes to the mainstream media, and this is a travesty as many people are not being warned of the consequences regarding the things politicians in Washington are doing. The whole "Fiscal Cliff" issue recently was a big charade and prime example of political theater. It accomplished nothing, in terms of addressing the real problems.

To add insult to injury, it added a ratio of 41 dollars in spending for every 1 dollar raised in "revenue" (I despise the term revenue when it comes to taxes, as it makes it seem like the government is engaging in market-based transactions of a voluntary nature. Let's call them what they are: Taxes. Language has suffered enough casualties in this age of spin and sugar-coating.)

The real fiscal cliff is crossing the 17 trillion bridge and soaring higher. It baffles me why so few people put the same urgency and focus on this monstrosity that they did on the political theater version of the "Fiscal Cliff". We are heading right towards inflation, downgrading of our national credit rating, devaluation of the dollar, and a whole lot more while we are on this entirely unsustainable path.

The economy is worsening. Make no mistake about that. As I've mentioned before, every small business person I deal with is closing, consolidating, and downsizing. I rarely see startups and almost never encounter a small business expanding. Small businesses are the engine of employment in the USA, and when you have the small business world in decline nothing good is going to come out of it.

Further, when economies are in decline and hardship spreads, crime begins to rise fast. This is the untold story across the US. Also, residents of many cities are facing a fast-rising nemesis in the form of gangs. Common estimates are that there are well over 1.4 million gang members in the USA and their numbers are increasing fast and will continue to rise with widespread unemployment among young adults. Gangs are behind the bulk of gun related murders in cities like Chicago.

So what kind of discussion are we having here in the USA right now? Disarming law-abiding citizens aka gun control. I always find it disturbing that the actions of a crazy individual inevitably turns into an outcry to take rights away from law abiding individuals. Do you really think that the gangs and criminals are going to be disarmed? Laws have worked so well in keeping illegal drugs out of their hands (heavy sarcasm intended).

This debate has also put on display an appalling lack of knowledge in the American public about the 2nd Amendment and why it was placed in the Bill of Rights. I plan on doing a major post about this in the hopes that people will research this for themselves, but the 2nd Amendment is not about sporting or hunting, or just home defense. It is a unique recognition of the right of free people to have the means to defend themselves against a government gone tyrannical. This reality of the basis for the 2nd Amendment has largely been ignored in the mainstream media. In my opinion this is because it does not fit their agenda to advance gun control legislation.

If the 2nd Amendment rendered worthless, the way is clear to roll over any other right that is inconvenient at a given time. There is also a terrible side effect of this gun control agenda. The efforts to disarm law-abiding citizens are successful, it will give rise to countless tragedies as people who otherwise might have had a chance to defend themselves and their families are going to be subjected to home invasions, burglaries, assaults, and rapes, all of which are going to rise greatly in number with the lethal combination of a terrible economy and disarmed, soft targets everywhere.

Of course, the Feinstein and Bloomberg types out there who believe they know best how you should live your life will not take any responsibility for the proliferation of tragedies in the wake of their draconian gun control agendas. Also take particular note that these kinds of elites are always protected by armed guards, and send their children to schools that have armed guards. They just don't want the masses to have the same kinds of protections for their kids or themselves. This hypocrisy is mind-boggling to those who are willing to see it for what it is.

To put it simply, the bad guys are not going to cease what they do. If anything, a disarmed US populace is a criminal's dream situation.

There are times when I stop and think of the kind of fiber in the leaders at the foundation of this country and the clowns we have in Washington today. It is debilitating to think we've gone from individuals such as George Washington, Ben Franklin, John Adams, Patrick Henry, George Mason, Thomas Paine, and the like to those such as Nancy Pelosi, John Boehner, Harry Reid, Chris Christie, Chuck Schumer, Dianne Feinstein, and Eric Cantor.

The contrast between the two groups couldn't be more stark, and it would be laughable if it wasn't both sad and distressing to see how the quality of leadership has sunk so very far One set in motion a nation that embraced individual freedom like no other an history, the latter illustrate Franklin's warning when asked what kind of government had been formed. He had responded, "a republic, if you can keep it."

Well, we are well on the way to losing it, and we are also facing another of Franklin's declarations, namely that those who "can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

So I hold to the thoughts I expressed after the election, in that we are going to see a major military conflict in the near future, continued economic erosion, and nothing being done to address the fundamental problems. I know this sounds gloomy, but how can you expect anything different when you make no changes in foreign policy, in economic policy, and double-down on the things choking entrepreneurship and small businesses like rising taxes and unnecessary regulations.

Our inane foreign policy continues. On one hand we are told relentlessly that intrusive surveillance and heavy-handed security presences are there to "protect us" from Islamic militants, and in the next breath the US aids and assist the very same kind of Islamic militants in taking over Libya, and gives the same support to the same kind of militants in Syria. From Tunisia, to Egypt, to Libya, to Syria, and all across this region government authority is falling under a united and much more extreme ideology that is not going to lead to anything good for he world. Yet even after the Benghazi incident most people still can't see what's going on or who's coming to power across the region.

Iraq is still highly violent and unstable, the Taliban is alive and well in Afghanistan, and at the end of the day one has to ask why so many good men and women are dying at the behest of the politicians who do not even have the decency to follow the Constitution and declare war.

I could go on and on, but seeing all this insanity at home and abroad can be pretty frustrating, especially in the light of history. Great lessons are there to be learned, and what they have to teach bodes very ill for the United States. One can only hope that the Liberty Movement continues to educate and gain steam, and that sovereignty is pulled back to local levels, that individual liberties are defended, that people regain self-determination, and much more. A stop can be put to the ills that plague us and the things that made us strong can be restored. It just takes people with willpower to make it happen.

As for me, I will move forward, and do my best in everything I do. Nobody can say for certain what the future holds, but at the end of the day it is about what you choose to do, not what others choose to do.

I do hope that success, peace and happiness finds everyone this year, but I think a time of struggle is ahead. Yet sometimes hardship brings out the best in men and women, and many heroes will rise to the occasion. Hang in there, keep your head up, and continue to pursue your dreams!

Free Kindle Titles all Christmas Week! SSP Open House!

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 20:19:00 +0000

Passing this along from SSP! A WEEK LONG Open House from Monday through Friday, including the first book of my Fires in Eden Series, Crown of Vengeance! Be sure to pass the word along to everyone you know who has a Kindle or gets one this coming week! :)

From December 24-28th, SSP has an open house on Amazon Kindle including all of its authors who have eBooks available! Many genres and styles available!

All books include cover art and interior artwork from the award-winning artists Matthew Perry and Bonnie Wasson! The free books include the following (along with additional titles available for sale from each author):

Spook House by Michael West (horror, a Harmony, Indiana Novel. Other Harmony Indiana tales include the novel Cinema of Shadows, and the short stories Goodnight, and For the River is Wide and the Gods Are Hungry. Michael's urban fantasy series The Legacy of the Gods includes Book One, Poseidon's Children)
http://www.amazon.com/Spook-House-ebook/dp/B009SS33VS

Redheart by Jackie Gamber (YA Fantasy, Book One of the Leland Dragon Series. Book Two, Sela, is available)
http://www.amazon.com/Redheart-Leland-Dragon-Series-ebook/dp/B004VFNJIA

Haunting Obsession by R.J. Sullivan (Paranormal Thriller, A Rebecca Burton Novella. Also available from R.J. is Backstage Pass, a Rebecca Burton Short Story)
http://www.amazon.com/Haunting-Obsession-ebook/dp/B008Y2SVS4

The Brotherhood of Dwarves by D.A. Adams (YA Fantasy, Book One of the Brotherhood of Dwarves Series. Book Two, Red Sky at Dawn, Book Three, The Fall of Dorkhun, and Book Four, Between Dark and Light are also available)
http://www.amazon.com/The-Brotherhood-of-Dwarves-ebook/dp/B0076OCAKG

Angelkiller by H. David Blalock (Urban Fantasy, Book One of the Angelkiller Triad. Book Two, Traitor Angel, is also available)
http://www.amazon.com/Angelkiller-The-Triad-ebook/dp/B006CR84AI

Overkill by Steven Shrewsbury (Sword and Sorcery, a Gorias La Gaul Story. Other available Gorias La Gaul tales include the novel Thrall, and the short stories Author and Finisher of Our Flesh, Beginning of the Trail, and Insurmountable)
http://www.amazon.com/Overkill-ebook/dp/B007X0G9IW

Crown of Vengeance by Stephen Zimmer (Epic Fantasy, Book One of the Fires in Eden Series. Book Two, Dream of Legends, and Book Three, Spirit of Fire, are also available, as well as the short stories set in the same world, including Lion Heart, Land of Shadow, and Into Glory Ride. Stephen's urban fantasy series, The Rising Dawn Saga, includes Book One, The Exodus Gate, Book Two, The Storm Guardians, and Book Three, The Seventh Throne, as well as the short story set in the same world, Temples Rising.)http://www.amazon.com/Crown-Vengeance-Fires-Eden-ebook/dp/B0039PU8EQ

The seven titles spotlighted above are free on Kindle the entire week from Monday through Friday! Spread the word and load up your brand new Kindles!

Worlds of Wonder Author Hop Day 7: Character Interview of King Hakon from Spirit of Fire

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:40:00 +0000

Here we are on the seventh and final day of the Worlds of Wonder Author Hop. I've got a new character interview for you to enjoy, this one of King Hakon of Midragard from the Fires in Eden Series. All you have to know for the character interview is that Midragard has a Viking-like culture, and King Hakon is an elderly king who is facing an existential threat to his people at the very twilight of his life. He is one of my favorite characters in the series, as while his body is aged his heart and spirit are strong!

Before we go to that, I want to thank Kimberly Comeau and T.C. Archer, and Holly from FMB Tours, who put all of this together and scheduled things. I really enjoyed participating this week and hope everyone liked the content that I contributed here. Thank you to everyone who visitied the blog! Be sure to stay in touch!

-Stephen

Character Interview with King Hakon of Midragard

King Hakon of Midragard with 2 retainers
and his wolf Heder.
Artwork by Matthew
Perry

I hope you are well, and in good health.

King Hakon: As good as a man my age can be, I suppose. The spirit of Midragard is yet strong, and that keeps my own strength up.

And that great wolf Heder?

King Hakon: He watches over me always, and still has the energy of a cub! That wolf has been a dear companion to me through many years. He is not a mere animal, but rather a friend.

I know you are sensing a very dark time ahead for Midragard. You have sent an entire fleet to the north to help the Saxans.

King Hakon: The tidings from the north are dark indeed. A storm has broken over the Five Realms and Saxany, two realms that have Midragard's friendship.

A great force formed from many lands has invaded Saxany. I had to act, as the Saxans do not have the strength to withstand the invasion for long. Even with the help of Midragard, I cannot say whether they will be able to hold the enemy back.

Why did you send the fleet, and not hold it back to defend your own shores?

King Hakon: I am defending our shores by sending the fleet north. If we stay here and do nothing, and let the allies of the Unifier destroy the Saxans and others, we will be alone when the enemy comes to our lands. We must do everything we can to stand with the other realms that wish to remain free of the Unifier's dominion.

Aid also goes to the Five Realms?

King Hakon: Yes, from the estates of many islands along the trading routes near the Five Realms. A good number of experienced Midragardan warriors have gone into the afflicted tribal lands. I do not yet know of their fate.

Messages have certainly been brought to you by very unexpected messengers. What was it like seeing an Elder?

King Hakon: Long have I known dragons. They thrive among the Drakkar Mountains within Midragard. But they are like cubs to a full grown wolf in comparison to an Elder. I never thought in my lifetime I would set my eyes upon one of those majestic creatures.

Yet the appearance of The Elder in our world is a dark omen in itself. The Elder drew back from the world ages ago, and have not been seen or heard from until now. Only something of tremendous importance would cause them to come back into the world of humans.

Will the dragons of your lands take part in the coming fight, especially since the Elder seem opposed to the Unifier?

King Hakon: The dragons know that Midragard gave them a haven, when they could find no rest in other lands. They revere the Elder, and I know in my heart they will not stand aside when the darkness shrouds our lands.

What are some of the other sources of strength to help defend Midragard?

King Hakon: The Berzerks, and the Ulfhednar. The Order they are a part of is ancient in these lands, and they are pledged to defend us. Each one of them is worth a great number of enemy warriors.

There are also many Wizards who have an affinity for Midragard, and they will not wish to see usurpers triumph.

And the Fenraren that Midargardan warriors ride into battle?

King Hakon: The Fenraren are tough and noble steeds. In each of them is an echo of the great Fenris. We are fortunate to have them with us during this time. If the enemy wishes to cross the skies of Midragard, they will not go uncontested.

What are some of your biggest worries at the moment?

King Hakon: Fate has seen to it that Midragard's most difficult hour arrives when my own life is at a very late hour. I only hope I have the strength to do what is right by my people.

You are regarded as a just and good king. Why do you think that is?

King Hakon: I do not seek to interfere with the aspirations of the Midragardan people. A king of Midragard is not like the kings I have heard of in other lands. We are here to lead in times of war, and we are here to help build trade and keep order. But other than times of war, a Midragardan should have little need for a king. We are a proud, strong, and free people, and I believe a good king of Midragard allows people to live their lives without interference.

Of course, as long as they bring no harm to others.

Thank you for speaking with me, King Hakon.

King Hakon: It was an honor. May the All-Father's grace be with you always.

Be Sure to Enter the Worlds of Wonder Giveaway!

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Worlds of Wonder Author Hop Day 6: A Spirit of Fire Excerpt

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:07:00 +0000

Worlds of Wonder Author Hop Day 6 has arrived, and though I'm a little behind today in getting my post up, I have a fun excerpt from Spirit of Fire, the third book in the Fires in Eden Series, to share with everyone. Dragol, the character interviewed during this author hop a few days back, is featured in this excerpt. So is the enigmatic Wanderer, and this scene gives you a sense of the two characters, who are both prominent to the series.

The only thing you need to know is that Dragol at this point has been forced down from the skies and is wandering through enemy territory, the lands of the Five Realms. The Trogen warrior was alone when he encountered the Wanderer, who he perceives to be an ordinary, older man. At this point of the story, he is beginning to find out that the Wanderer is something more, as this scene illustrates. I hope you all enjoy it!

-Stephen

Excerpt 2 from Spirit of Fire:

The Wanderer with the Firaken from
this scene. Artwork by Matthew Perry.

Emerging from the forest growth directly before them, without any regard for stealth or surprise, was a most fearsome-looking creature. Walking upon six sinewy legs, the beast carried an arsenal of weapons in its very step.

Each of its legs ended in broad paws, armed with an array of nestled claws, each like deadly blades unto themselves. The natural blades were partially unsheathed, the spiky ends protruding as if to herald the beast’s deadly capability.

The creature stepped with a silence hard to believe for an animal of such girth. Boasting exceptional height, its large round head was level with the middle of Dragol’s chest, even in a relaxed posture. Dark, silky fur covered the surface of its long, chiseled body, giving a rich sheen to

its muscular contours.

Piercing, feline eyes gazed upon Dragol, narrowing in the daylight to thin ellipses. The predator’s lips curled back as it emitted an eerie hiss, revealing gleaming daggers of white set into its upper and lower jaws.

A foreboding tension coalesced, setting off alarms at every level of instinct the Trogen possessed. The hairs at the back of his neck stood on end. A veteran hunter, Dragol had no illusions about what the situation before them presented. His body statue-still, Dragol made no sudden movements, but he prepared himself to dive to the side the moment the predator before them lunged.

“My friend, have no trouble with us. We intend you no harm,” the old man addressed the beast, his easygoing timbre cutting through the stillness.

For a moment, Dragol thought the old man had lost his wits, but the look in the eyes of the creature in front of them softened at the old man’s words. Its lips closed, shutting their exposure of the lethal weapons within. The sense of coiling threat Dragol had felt dissipated rapidly.

“Come over here, my friend,” the old man invited, holding his hand out towards the large predator.

Deliberately, the cat-like monstrosity sauntered over to Dragol and the old man. Despite every instinct to run off or draw his blade, Dragol kept control of himself, and remained in place.

The old man reached up, and stroked the creature on the side of its head, just behind one of its triangular ears. He worked his hand up gradually to rub the space between its eyes. The creature closed its eyes as the old man scratched, emitting a sound reminiscent of a small, purring cat, only much more resonant.

“He will not bite, or try to maul you,” the old man said, inviting Dragol over to pet the creature. “I have two wolves of my own … big fellows, and sometimes irascible curmudgeons. But they are good lads who, though they both look monstrous, can be as gentle as lambs. Appearances do not always reflect that which is true, I have long come to realize. There is nothing to fear from this one right now.”

Following the incident with the large tree, Dragol knew that reality was not being governed by the same rules he had been used to throughout his life. Though admittedly nervous, Dragol reached forward and touched the soft fur of the creature.

To his surprise, the beast lowered itself to the ground, rolling over onto its back. It folded its legs underneath, fully exposing its belly for rubbing. Dragol noticed the claws of the beast were now entirely

retracted.

The old man reached out both of his hands, scratching and massaging the creature all along its belly, eliciting sounds of gratification from the huge carnivore. Dragol did likewise, though still riddled with tentativeness. He ran his hands along the fur of the creature, feeling the steely muscle lying underneath.

Dragol could not assuage his worries whenever he looked upon the creature’s wide paws, containing the host of deadly knives that could emerge in a flash, and be wielded with blinding speed. The thoughts kept his heart rate quickened.

The Trogen glanced over at the old man several times, as the mystery surrounding his companion grew. The event with the stream water, the lifting of the tree, and the peaceful interaction with a deadly predator were undeniable examples of deeper powers harbored within

the enigmatic figure.

Dragol was a hunter and a warrior. He had spent many days and nights tracking game back in his homeland, with others of his Thunder Wolf clan. His instincts had been acutely honed through war and hunts fraught with peril, such that he could recognize the confidence that came with exceptional martial capability. There was no question the elderly man with him had that sense about him; in abundance.

A part of Dragol deep inside, which he called his spirit, told him the old man would have protected them, if the creature had attacked. It also told him the old man could have driven the creature off with little trouble or disruption to their travel. Instead, the old man had chosen to invite the creature over, to have its head and belly scratched as if it was merely a tame animal.

Dragol knew he had gained further insight into the nature of the mysterious wanderer. While his curiosities were not satisfied by far, every glimmer of understanding helped make the man less of an enigma.

“You are quite large, my friend. A very big one of your kind,” the old man remarked to the beast. “Night comes in a few hours, and you will be seeking food. And this is the time of year for you to be seeking your mate. Good luck to you on that. Females can be very formidable,

of any kind.”

The old man chuckled lightly. Dragol could not dispute the old man’s last statement, humoring himself with a brief remembrance of the way his own father, a fearless warrior, was cowed into meekness in one moment by his stalwart mother.

The old man laughed more heartily, rubbing the creature vigorously on its belly. He patted the creature solidly a few times near its haunches and stood up. Though Dragol felt more secure, he took the movement as a cue and rose to his feet with him.

The creature slowly rolled over with a final, contented purr, getting slowly back up to its broad paws. It turned about, and extended its large head to the old man.

The old man looked proportionately miniscule. The creature’s massive jaws could easily engulf the skull of a human within them. Instead of threats, the creature leaned forward and rubbed its face affectionately against the right cheek of the old man. Merry laughter came from the old man as the creature brushed its fur on him.

The creature then turned to Dragol, and did the same. Dragol saw that his exposed neck was just inches away from glistening teeth that could end his mortal existence in a flash of time. He could feel the hot breath of the beast upon his skin.

Before the Trogen could worry himself too much, the forest predator then casually turned and walked off, to be lost amid the trees after a few strides. Dragol remained in place, staring in the direction the creature had gone. He kept silent for several long moments, as if

transfixed. “There is a gentle nature in all of us, great or small,” the old man

said reflectively.

“You have a way with beasts, “ Dragol observed, a wry grin coming to his face. “I am fortunate you were here.”

“He just wanted to greet us, have his belly rubbed and scratched, and go attend to his own concerns,” the old man replied with a shrug, chuckling. “Humans and Trogens always expect the worst.”

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Worlds of Wonder Author Hop Day 5: Short Interview

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 18:06:00 +0000

Here's the fifth day of the World's of Wonder Author Hop, and for this one Holly presented me with some questions for a short interview that will hopefully catch you up to where I'm at right now, give you some insights into my feelings about speculative fiction and why I write it, and also give you some of my thoughts about the nutty world of publishing authors have to deal with nowadays. There are some sobering things to think about, but I've always preferred straight talk, so I hope you both enjoy and find value in the things gleaned from my experience.
-Stephen

Holly: Can you tell us some of your latest news?

Stephen: Right now, I’m working on the 4^th Rising Dawn Saga novel, as well as polishing up several short stories. I have new ones coming out soon for the Chronicles of Ave Collection, the Annals of the Rising Dawn Collection, and some horror short stories for a brand new themed collection called the Hellscapes. The latter will be very intensive, inspired by my loves of Paradise Lost, Dante's Inferno, and Clive Barker!

2013 is poised to be a fairly busy year, with the 4^th Rising Dawn Saga novel and hopefully a new Fires in Eden novel coming out, as well as more short stories, and perhaps the first book of a new cross-genre YA series. I’m also looking forward to the latest Harvey and Solomon story coming out in the third Dreams of Steam anthology, and plan on doing more with those two wonderful characters in 2013 as well.

When there are enough short stories in one of my collections, a single-author collection in print is very likely too. So as you can see, a busy year ahead indeed!

Holly: Why do you write in these genres?

Stephen: Speculative fiction is truly without limits, especially when writing in an epic scale like I do with the Fires in Eden Series and the Rising Dawn Saga. You can go from the cosmic to the intimate, and everything in between. Similarly, you can focus on themes involving life’s big picture, or more personal ones, with a full range of tools to address them.

I like that kind of freedom and creative possibilities. Further, creative arts allow you to transcend the mundane, so I am drawn towards speculative fiction because it allows for the existence of worlds of wonder, magic, and all things supernatural.

Holly: Do you think you may ever go into other sub-genres?

I certainly intend to, as I’m not afraid to try any other sub-genre. At the heart of every story you have to have good characters and a compelling plot. If you have that foundation, the elements unique to various genres can be brought into the mix.

I can say for certain that I have a space opera series mapped out. When I get the time, it won’t take long to immerse into writing the first installment of that series.

Holly: What is your favorite part of writing?

Stephen: The actual writing is my favorite part, when I have my music playing, a cold can of Monster Energy on my desk, and am in a good flow. The actual creative moments are by far the most rewarding.

Some days I find myself tilting a little more towards J.D. Salinger in that I am tempted to just write a story and enjoy it for its own sake, and not worry about going through all the mess that goes with the chaotic world of publishing today.

I have often described my zone like being in a mild trance, in terms of seeing the stories transpiring mentally and then working to depict them with words. Being in this zone is just wonderful.

Holly: Can you tell us a few do’s and don’ts for aspiring authors?

Stephen: Understand the publishing process and the value that others bring to it, whether that involves editors, cover artists, layout/graphic design artists, blog reviewers, publicists, or anyone else who have a part to play in the publishing and promotion of a literary work. The more you respect and value this process and the parts that others play in it, the more professional and considerate you will be while interacting on all levels. Not everything goes smoothly or perfectly, and the more you understand how things work the more reasonable you will be when you encounter bumps on the road.

I also think it is a good idea to keep your writing and promotion/publicity worlds separate. I write on a separate computer, in fact, one that is not hooked up to the internet. In this way, I help to keep my full focus on my writing, and keep potential distractions at bay that might otherwise become problematic if I was doing everything on the same system.

Finally, I’m not a big fan of word counts, and believe it is more important to write regularly than it is to obsess over a certain number of words per session. If you write regularly, the word count will largely take care of itself.

Holly: What are some of the pro’s and con’s of self-publishing verses being published by a publisher in your opinion?

Stephen: There’s far less of a stigma about self-publishing than there was before, but it is important to emphasize that good self-publishing approaches publishing in the same manner that an independent press would. From editing, to layout, to marketing, every stage of a book’s production and release must be executed properly. Effective self-publishing assembles the right team to achieve all stages at a professional level of quality.

Publishing at the moment is really chaotic. Old models are no longer applicable, and the ground is anything but stable.

There really is no rhyme or reason why some things take off and become blockbusters. Take 50 Shades of Grey for example. There is no question there are many, many far better written books out there with the very same kind of themes, but for whatever reason this one trended and became the “hot” and “must read” release. There was nothing unique or special the author did with 50 Shades of Grey than other peers of hers that write on the same themes. It just happened. And the fact that a major press picked it up and put it out is no reflection of the quality level. It merely reflects that they calculated they can make good sales with it. I can give many more examples of titles that are not even well-edited that have sold in droves versus works of a very high literary quality that struggle to make sales, despite authors doing everything right promotionally.

It has been one of the more gloomy realities I have discovered over the past few years, but if you want to do this as a career it is better that you understand that there is a lot of great stuff that struggles, and a whole lot of crap that sells. And even when you understand this, it can still be a bitter pill to swallow. I recently read two works by authors who are truly elite in their craft. Elegant prose, spectacular word choices, loads of thought into plot and character. Really quality literature, with depth, by two authors who have honed their craft to a razor-sharp edge. Yet they struggle to sell when a derivative urban fantasy clone of a best-seller thrown up without even having professional editing sells in the thousands.

Go figure. But that's how it goes. There really is a luck factor these days, but you still have to put yourself in the best position for that luck to strike.

You are dealing with a tsunami of releases, as everybody and their cousin, brother, and mother are putting up eBooks these days, and it is indeed hard to gain attention in such a churning sea. You are going to run into many people throwing eBooks up on Kindle and Nook thinking lightning is going to strike and they’re going to get rich. This type does just enough to put out eBooks, and really don't have a passion for storytelling. I see it all the time.

I’m not being pessimistic, it is just that this is the simple reality on the ground when there is zero gatekeeping for getting to market. This is the glaring con side of the brave new world of digital publishing. And if you remain inert, even if you have an absolute gem, the sad truth is that the legions of the mediocre will drown you out.

Basically, if you have a passion for being a writer and a storyteller, you should just work on being the best writer and storyteller that you can be. Understand that most likely it is going to be a very frustrating process with all the demands of promotion, social media, and the like. Know the business as best you can, engage in regular promotion and publicity activities, but the priority should always be your stories and your writing. After all, your love of writing is what took you on this path to begin with.

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Worlds of Wonder Author Hop Day 4: Welcome to Ave, a World Like No Other

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:38:00 +0000

Welcome to day 4 of the Worlds of Wonder Author Hop! For today's installment, I was asked to write about the world of my Fires in Eden Series. I hope today's post gives you a good introduction to Ave, and I invite you to explore this world extensively in my novels and short stories!

-Stephen

Welcome to Ave, a World Like No Other

Ave is the world that the Fires in Eden Series is set within. It is pronounced “ah-vay”, just like the Latin term it is derived from. The word itself means “hail”, and in the world of ancient Rome one would use it to greet someone of great distinction, such as an Emperor.

In the context of my series, the idea the name is getting at is a dignified greeting of life itself. Not life in the way that most of us know it, with death, disease, and all of the brutality inherent in nature. Rather, it is a hailing of existence over non-existence, the uniqueness of each individual spirit (whether animal, human, or other), and an unsullied state of nature like one that we humans on earth have not experienced. It is life in its most vibrant state, a transcendent one that bears no corruption.

Obviously, in the series Ave is under assault from the same things that we are in our own world, and this is discovered by the small group from Earth who go into Ave during the first sections of Crown of Vengeance. Aside from the struggles inherent in nature itself, such as famine, drought, disease, earthquakes, and other calamities, it is filled with cultures both human and non-human that are part of a lengthy history covering several thousand years.

There are immortal races within Ave(But not eternal, there is a distinction between the two. An immortal does not age or get sick, but they can be killed by violence). They include the Wizards, who are a race of beings imbued with a variety of incredible powers. There are also the Elves, who are quite different in outlook from those in other series like Lord of the Rings. The Elder, a race of titanic dragons whose impact in Ave was something to behold in its first era, are another.

Beyond the immortal races there are a great variety of mortal beings and creatures populating Ave. When it comes to the humans, many of their realms reflect cultures that we might know from our own history. In Crown of Vengeance alone, the reader encounters and learns about cultures existing in Ave based upon the Normans, Saxons, Iroquois, Byzantines, medieval Russians, medieval Islamic world (from the Moors to the Fatimids), Vikings, and more. As the series grows, many more are revealed. The short story series set in Ave, the Chronicles of Ave, has also introduced the reader to other parts of Ave that resemble medieval China, sub-Saharan Africa, Ireland, and others.

Just like earth, Ave is comprehensive in its range of cultures and ethnicities. Book Three, Spirit of Fire, finally gave the reader a map of the lands involved in the series to that point, but it is by no means a complete map of the entire world. There is much more ahead.

In addition to human cultures inspired by ones from our own world, there are many non-human cultures that readers are encountering for the very first time in this world. The underground-dwelling Unguhur, with their mushroom forests and dwellings carved out of rock are one example. The Trogens, a brawny race of creatures with short, thick muzzles that give them a pit bull-like countenance, are perhaps my favorite. The rat-like Atagar, the huge Gigans, the desert-dwelling, long-limbed Khala (revealed in a Chronicles of Ave short story called Land of Shadow), the bull-headed Burujin, and many, many more strange and exciting non-human cultures populate Ave and come into the story told in the Fires in Eden Series.

There are aspects of Ave beneath the waters and in the skies that come into play, but I won’t comment much on these due to the major spoiler factor. I will say that the Fires in Eden Series is able to take the action into unexpected environments, as there are supernatural factors, as well as races of flying creatures that many realms have trained as steeds, and other things that enable characters to engage environments that are not often encountered in other epic fantasy series. The wars in Ave truly take place on land, sea, AND air!

I have been developing Ave ever since the series began in the mid-90’s, and I can assure the reader there is a lot more ahead than what they’ve already seen in the novels and short stories released so far. In terms of content, I have yet to find or hear of another fantasy world with the richness and depth that Ave contains, or the sheer variety of cultures. In this sense, I am very confident when I tell new readers who enjoy epic fantasy that they have a world like no other to explore and adventure in. So I welcome you to Ave, a world like no other!

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Worlds of Wonder Author Hop Day 3: Character Interview with Dragol of the Fires in Eden Series

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 16:20:00 +0000

For day 3 of the Worlds of Wonder Author Hop, Holly from Full Moon Bites presented these questions for me to give to one of the characters from the Fires in Eden Series. I was able to reach Dragol, a Trogen warrior of the Thunder Wolf Clan. Trogens are tall, muscular beings with faces that have short, broad muzzles, almost like a pit bull. In this series, they are one of the many lands who have come to fight on the side of the Unifier in a war intended to end all wars, and usher in a new order. When you first meet the Trogens in Crown of Vengeance, they appear pretty harsh and brutal, but there is a lot more to them, and I hope this interview with Dragol gives you some deeper insight to one of my absolute favorite cultures in all of Ave!
-Stephen

Interview with Dragol of the Thunder Wolf Clan:

Holly: What single thing or goal do you want most in life?

Dragol: I want to live a life of honor. What a Trogen means by honor may be different from what you might understand. I have found the ways of humans very different from those of Trogens. Human honor may be different from Trogen honor. But living an honorable life is the highest goal of a Trogen. A Trogen with honor will find a home in Elysium in the next world.

Holly: What do you fear most?

Dragol: I fear what every Trogen fears. To never be tested. To never be measured. To never know if my heart is strong or not. To never know if I am truly worthy of being called a Trogen. Those are the things to be feared. A life untested is a life not worth living. I believe it is even worse than it is to fail.

Holly: What’s your world like?

Illustration of Trogen upon a Harrak from
Crown of Vengeance.
Artwork by Matthew Perry

Dragol: The Trogen lands are to the north and west of Kiruva, a human realm, and west of the lands of the Gigans. The Trogen lands are filled with hills and great mountains. Many powerful beasts dwell there, many who our great clans are named after. The Blood Boars, the Forest Wolverines, the Mountain Bears, and others. We live in villages, but we live in the shadow of an ancient enemy.

The Elves have long oppressed the Trogens. They sailed the seas, flew upon their steeds in the skies, and mastered weapons before my kind existed. When we settled our lands, they attacked us. They have raided us throughout the ages. When part of our lands were found to be rich in the things valued by them, metals and gems, they took that land and enslaved a great many of my kind.

It is not Trogen weakness that keeps us from freeing them. We could not build a fortress, or ships. The Elves would attack in great strength to destroy them before they were completed.

Blade to blade, we can fight them. But we do not have their high walls or their ships.

We were able to master sky steeds, and we fly upon the great Harraks who dwell in the mountains of our lands. Since the time of the warrior Marragesh, we have challenged the Elves in the skies.

We live at all times under threat, but our kind are strong, and we have endured. One day we will find a way to liberate the Trogens held captive.

Our path is not an easy one. Like a longblade, a Trogen is forged. The world that we live in is the fire that shapes the iron of who we are.

Holly: Are you presently in love, or do you hope to find someone special?

Dragol: It is hard for me to understand what humans mean by love. Do you mean a mate? I have yet to find a mate. I will not do this until I know in my heart that I am fully worthy of being a Trogen Warrior ... fully worthy of being one of the Thunder Wolf Clan ... fully worthy of being called a Trogen. Any sons or daughters I have must be born to a father with honor, as I was born to a father with honor and a mother most strong. I must be worthy of the respect of my mate. I must be strong for her, as she must be strong for me.

A Trogen life is not an easy journey. A family is a great responsibility. Sons and daughters are reflections of those who give them life. And they are reflections of the clan. It is not the duty of others to raise our offspring. It is our duty to raise them and prepare them for whatever may come. This great responsibility is one that must be shared fully by the two who are mates. This is why the choosing of a mate is no easy thing, for a female or a male of the Trogen kind.

I do hope that when I return to my kind I can find a mate. I want to have strong sons and daughters, and a mate I respect, honor, and share life with.

Holly: Sum up your life in the last few weeks in 150 words or less.

Illustration from Spirit of Fire of a
Trogen Warrior in combat against
a knight.
Artwork by Matthew Perry

Dragol: The fighting had just begun over the tribal lands, the place the humans call the Five Realms. While protecting the huge Darroks sent by the Unifier, the warriors under my command did not heed my command and became reckless when I saw a great force of Midragardan warriors approaching through the skies upon Fenraren steeds.

I did not wish to throw my life away so uselessly when they went against my command and rushed to certain defeat. I landed my steed on the ground and took to the forests where the enemy dwelled. It was there that I met the Wanderer. He is of human appearance, but I believe him to be a Wizard as he has done much to show he has great powers.

He was like a guide to me, even to the moment when I was taken captive by tribal warriors. Much has happened since then, and I am still held by the tribal humans as another journey begins.

Holly: Do you have any words of wisdom you think everyone should live by?

Live always with honor. It is hard to explain this to humans. Trogens do not care for the gold and silver that seems to rule you. You deceive each other, kill each other, steal from each other over metal from the ground. The worth of a Trogen has nothing to do with what things they possess. The worth of a Trogen is measured by what they have done. Courage ... strength ... loyalty ... these are some of the things that are part of living with honor. It is earned. It is built. It is forged. It is not given.

Holly: If you could change one thing of your past would you? If so, what would it be and why?

There is nothing I would change. I may know and realize more now than I did before. But the path that led to where I am today brought me what I needed to have the understanding I have in my heart now. I have always sought to be true to myself. I have made unwise choices, but I have learned from these times and grown.

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World of Wonder Author Hop Day 2: Spirit of Fire Excerpt!

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 06:08:00 +0000

Here we are on day two of the Worlds of Wonder Author Hop, and today I am excited to be able to present an excerpt from Spirit of Fire, the third book in my epic fantasy Fires in Eden Series. Containing an ensemble cast, loaded with action, featuring diverse cultures, set in an extensively developed world, and carrying a balance of inventive, uncommon, and traditional fantasy elements, my Fires in Eden series has been near and dear to me ever since I began working on it in the mid 1990's.

Crown of Vengeance started the this fantastical journey, and landed me my first literary award with the Pluto Award for Best Novel in 2010 (an award centered on speculative fiction in small press/indie press). The second step of the series was taken with Dream of Legends, and the third step with Spirit of Fire. As of now I project about seven novels in the series.

I will be presenting a little more about my series during the author hop, but I think it would be good to give you a taste of the book itself. I do have to give you a minor spoiler to help you place the setting of this sample, which I also chose because you do not have to know too much of the story to enjoy this particular section.

This excerpt starts off Spirit of Fire, and gives you a feel for some of the more dangerous elements in the book. A malevolent and powerful being called an Arcamon, a servant of the Unifier, prepares to unleash a deadly and terrifying weapon against an underground dwelling society of creatures called the Unguhur, who intervened on behalf of the human Saxan kingdom during an invasion by forces loyal to the Unifier's will. I hope you enjoy this sample, and if you do I invite you to begin your journey with Book One, Crown of Vengeance, which is available in softcover and eBook formats!

-Stephen Zimmer

Synopsis of Spirit of Fire: A maelstrom of war engulfs the lands resisting the designs of the Unifier to bring about a new order, of a kind that has never existed within Ave. Battered by a massive invasion force from Gallea, the tribal people of the Five Realms and their Midragardan allies are being driven eastward, towards the sea, while the Saxan lines are wearing down ever thinner on the Plains of Athelney. Time is running out quickly, as an ancient creature of legend soars through the skies with a brave young Saxan. They carry the desperate hopes of two realms sorely beset by a voracious enemy. Diabolic entities conduct a great hunt, as a malignant darkness deepens across all of Ave. The exiles from another world must gain refuge, or find themselves ensnared by the long reach of the Unifier. The very nature of creation itself stands in the balance. It is a time when the honor and fortitude of many are put to the test, and terrible prices are paid for resisting great evils. It is also a time of awakening for many, old and young alike, some of whom may yet discover the spirit of fire that lies within. The third installment in the Fires in Eden series, Spirit of Fire is richly imagined epic fantasy with a diverse ensemble of characters that offers a new world to explore for the readers who enjoy large-scale tales along the likes of George R.R. Martin, Brandon Sanderson, Steven Erikson, and J.R.R. Tolkien.

Excerpt from Spirit of Fire:

To the northeast of the Plains of Athelney, a motley assemblage sprawled across an expanse of open ground. Located adjacent to a lake, upon the outskirts of an extensive range of forested hills, the gathering was not too far removed from the place where one tendril of the invasion force had already run into stout Saxan resistance.

The surface of the water was choppy, buffeted frequently with brisk surges of wind. A considerable tension clung to the steadily cooling, evening air, empowered by what had taken place, and what was to come.

The earlier thrust of the Avanoran invaders had endured an unexpected, thorough destruction. Battered survivors trickling back spoke with shaky voices, and wide, frightened eyes, telling of brawny, non-human warriors with gray hides. A horde of the creatures had emerged seemingly out of nowhere, without warning, to shatter the Avanoran encampment and slaughter all but a remnant of the force.

The Saxans that had been arrayed in the hills presented no threat anymore, having been broken and scattered just prior to the deadly ambush. But the brutish interlopers that had decimated the Avanoran force were still an obstacle to be wary of, and reckoned with. They were about to be countered with a most chilling solution.

The deepening unease gripping the assemblage was enough to rattle the nerves of even the most seasoned, hardened of veterans, whether Trogen or human. The disquiet had a single, dreadful source, one that was living, or at least animated to a mockery of life. It was hard to discern which, as the normal vibrancy of life was not present within the hooded being standing tall among the throng of warriors.

The grave apprehension was deepened even further by two huge objects borne into the midst of the warriors, at the dark figure’s command. The winged monstrosities that had carried the pair of elongated shapes to the lakeside now rested on the ground, their vast wings tucked in.

The two Darroks were intimidating sights to behold on any occasion, but they were not the cause of the elevated alarm and distress pervading the scene. Between the Arcamon and the hellish cargo of the Darroks, the gathered warriors were truly caught between a hammer and anvil of cold fear. Mounted upon the Darroks’ backs were immense cages, fashioned of timber and iron. The interior of the cages was hidden from view, with long horizontal planks of wood affixed to their frames, the timber lengths fully covering the sides.

The cages themselves were of a respectable height, enough that the tallest amongst the Trogens could walk into them with ample headroom to spare. But the great length of each cage was what made them most unusual.

The ongoing work involved with the pair of enclosures was conducted with extreme diligence and focus. The assiduousness was bolstered by the fact that most of those laboring with the cages wished to keep their attentions diverted from the foreboding entity silently watching over their progress.

With the ends of its long, dark cape undulating in the winds, the Arcamon sat astride its infernal steed. Exposed so prominently atop a small rise in the middle of the host, the entity conveyed an image of authority. The Arcamon’s raised hood was a mercy to the surrounding warriors, shrouding the entity’s nightmarish face within caliginous

shadows.

The glowing embers of the Arcamon’s gaze were fixed upon the mass of individuals handling the makeshift network of ropes and pulley-driven cranes, the latter similar to those used on ships at quays, to lower the giant cages.

The Arcamon’s grotesque winged steed, scaly, sinuous, and serpentine, followed its master’s every directive with rigid discipline. It was now brooding and silent, patiently awaiting its master’s next command.

Though the shrouded figure appeared impassive to all eyes, a mounting impatience was welling up within the Arcamon. Of the four of its kind loosed at a tremendous expenditure of energy from the fiery depths of Jebaalos’ realm, two were now aiding the assaults upon the Saxan kingdom.

That alone reflected the tremendous importance the Unifier placed upon subjugation of the Saxan lands. The invasion was a pivotal element of the final series of conquests, which would bring all of Ave under one authority; outwardly that of the Unifier, though truly, through the Unifier, Jebaalos.

The Arcamon’s fury had soared throughout the report informing of the sudden Unguhur attack, which had blunted the Avanoran efforts to break through to the northeast of the Plains of Athelney. The force should have been able to hook around through the mountains, to pour down and ambush the main Saxan forces on their exposed right flank, out on the Plains of Athelney.

The worst aspect of it was that the Saxan ranks arrayed to oppose the Avarnoran maneuver had been dislodged and broken, leaving the way clear for all aims to be achieved. All had been thwarted by a horde from a brutish race that now held the Arcamon’s malefic ire.

At the moment, the battle at the Plains of Athelney should have been over, and the interior of the Saxan lands left wide open. The Kingdom of Saxany had likely exhausted itself in the musters for the Plains of Athelney, and for the smaller force deployed to face the woodland incursion.

Unlike the Trogens, humans, and others around it, the Arcamon knew much about the Unguhur. The primitive creatures had emerged from the depths of their underworld dominion, having been well-hidden from the extensive scouting from the skies and on the land. The human and Trogen leaders had been confounded. To the few that had even heard of the underground race, the Unguhur existed only within legends, or as wisps of tales. Things of legend and myth were certainly not foremost on the minds of the invasion force’s command.

In a practical sense, the existence of an underground population of Unguhur, right under Saxan lands, was something entirely unknown; and altogether unaccounted for.

Nevertheless, the Arcamon had confronted many of the Avanoran lords after the terrible debacle. Its dark presence had driven each one of the fierce, haughty commanders to become sniveling, groveling fools in mere moments. Mortals confronted by an immortal from the afterworld itself, its very existence boggling to their minds, several had broken out in cold sweats. Others had openly trembled, unable to stifle the terror wracking their spirits

Failure for any reason was never to be lightly taken, whether in the infernal realms or in Ave. The Arcamon had faced the Avanoran lords as if they were going to be made to answer fully for the considerable losses.

Using mystical arts from the abyssal depths, the Arcamon had implanted stark images directly into the minds of the Avanoran lords, one by one. Shadows of madness, visions of monstrosities in chasms of sentient blackness, and searing vistas of blood-drenched infernos filled the thoughts of the Avanoran lords, as they were given the briefest of glimpses into the nether kingdom of Jebaalos.

They were unable to avoid the terrifying spectacles by shutting their eyes, forced to endure the waking nightmares for what threatened to be an interminable ordeal. A couple openly wept, others shook as the cold sweats streaked down their faces, and still others collapsed to the ground in quivering, sobbing heaps. The Arcamon knew their minds

were not equipped to handle such sights for very long.

After their humiliating, terrifying experience had reached the very edge of a place from where it could not return, on the brink of madness, the Arcamon finally, and suddenly, withdrew its hellish grip. The entity consigned the horrific visions to the subconscious regions of their minds.

The Arcamon knew every thought going through their minds as they were loosed. The seeds of many future sleepless, nightmare-flooded nights had been sown, but the Avanorans had blinked and gasped in surprise, and relief, as they were released. They quickly regained their focus, but found to their great agitation they had absolutely no recollections of the previous several moments.

For them it was as if time itself had skipped forward. Greatly disconcerted, their hearts still beat rapidly as an icy fear danced on the edges of their awareness. The Arcamon had then turned immediately to the issue set before all of them, breaking the defenses of the Saxans, and those that aided them. Whether the main invasion force had broken through or not out on the Plains of Athelney, it was advantageous for the Avanorans to secure an open passage into the northern lands of the Saxan kingdom.

The Unguhur were the only real threat standing in the way. To confront them, and root them out from their underground domain, the Arcamon quickly settled upon a strategy that would exact a terrible vengeance in the process of achieving their aims.

A summons had been sent by way of another of the Arcamon’s dark, mysterious arts back to Avalos itself. Two young Darroks were being harnessed shortly thereafter, on open grounds just outside of the great city. Though not fully trained, the pair of Darroks were the only ones out of the Unifier’s brood not currently committed elsewhere.

A small crew of fiercely loyal, carefully selected Avanoran warriors had then guided the giant winged beasts to a faraway, hidden place. It was a location known to very few, and all of those were beholden to the Unifier and Jebaalos.

To assault something of the underworld, the Arcamon had chosen to send something from the darkest depths of the underworld. The creatures granted to the bidding of the Arcamon were not entirely unknown to the surface world.

Their subterranean kind had risen up before, making their presence known many times over the long ages of the world of Ave. They had reached the surface through deep lakes and rivers, ascending from the gaping depths of the underworld itself, becoming creatures of great myths and legends themselves.

Two of the creatures had been obtained to serve the Arcamon’s bidding, each one of them a veritable juggernaut. Their bodies were akin to enormous serpents, covered with hardened scales that were collectively as good as a solid sheath comprised of the finest crafted armor.

Of massive girth, their bodies were as thick as the trunks of the oldest, largest trees in all of the Saxan forests. Neither of the fully-grown monstrosities was less than seventy feet in length. Their appearance was also as beautiful as it was terrifying. The scales forming their natural armor were themselves comprised of a variety of vibrant colors, amid others that seemed to blaze like tongues of fire when caught by the light.

The deadly beauty reached its pinnacle atop their great heads. As if kings and queens among the ancient race of snakes, they were crowned with natural diadems. Great, sharply pointed horns sprouted up from each side of their massive heads. In the center of their broad craniums, at the forward end of a fiery red crest, was what looked to be a radiant, sparkling, crystal, bisected by a prominent, blood-red streak.

Their enormous heads contained a gaping maw lined with an arsenal of spiky, rear-curving teeth, forming an inescapable prison for anything caught within the creatures’ awesome bite. Two massive fangs, like gleaming, deadly sabers being pulled from scabbards, extended downward whenever the creature opened its mouth with the intent to

strike.

Just a few tiny drops of venom from one of the creatures’ fangs were more than enough to kill the strongest of humans. One full injection from the dual fangs imparted a comparative torrent of lethal poison, which no creature living on the surface of Ave could withstand.

In the abysmal reaches of the underworld, the beasts could pass through great depths of water, navigate the most powerful of currents, and weather the greatest turbulence. Their bodies could handle great extremes of temperature, and withstand exceptional pressures. On solid ground, they moved with tremendous bursts of speed, dizzying to behold.

There were very few creatures in all of Ave that had the kind of size and power to even have a chance to contend with the colossal serpents; and most of those were now regarded in a mythical state themselves.

Yet they were not invincible, having one major place of vulnerability on their bodies. Located seven spots from the base of their heads was a susceptible point where a solid, penetrating strike could instantly incapacitate the giant beasts. The knowledge of the location was largely delegated to obscure lore, known currently only to a few handfuls of people whose ancestors had encountered the horror of the deadly creatures in past times.

The Uktena were virtually without rival, exactly the kind of formidable creature the Arcamon could use to beset their underground adversaries.

In a shrouding darkness secure from the reach of the sun, the Unifier was keeping a number of the fearsome creatures. Tended closely by the Unifier’s Sorcerers, the Uktena were controllable. Using their secret arts, the Sorcerers had lulled the creatures into a deep, trance- like slumber, before a cadre of highly-unnerved Gigans had laboriously gotten them into the lengthy cages.

The creatures had not stirred in the least, as the cages were then mounted up onto the young Darroks’ backs, but the huge flying beasts instantly sensed the nature of their deadly passengers. It took a highly concerted effort from their flyers and Sorcerers alike just to calm the surge of agitation in the Darroks. The titanic steeds rumbled and snorted, loosing short, sporadic bursts of fire, even after they had been brought under an outward semblance of control.

Two of the exalted Sorcerers of Avalos accompanied the beasts on the ensuing journey, keeping the Uktena in an unconscious state throughout the entire flight. At the moment, a Sorcerer attended each cage, as they were tediously lowered and angled off of the backs of the Darroks.

Under the increasing weight of the Arcamon’s spectral gaze, the small host of men and Trogens, augmented by horses, and a pair of the powerful Gigans, continued to strain with ropes secured to the cages. The wood of their assembled cranes creaked and groaned with an unnerving tenor, the ropes taut as the tremendous weight of their burden drew the

hempen cording to the limits. Just alongside each team, the stoic form of a Sorcerer kept a wary

eye out for even the slightest sign that the Uktena might be awakening from their deep slumber. The Arcamon paid no heed to the nerve- wracked state of those handling the cages, who feared that the serpentine monsters could be roused at any moment by the jostles, shakes, heaves, and lurches that the enclosures endured. The noise generated by the effort was considerable as well, as both man and animal grunted in their exertion, and those in authority shouted out orders, whenever sudden adjustments were needed.

When the cages were completely free from the Darroks, and were finally resting upon the ground, the handlers mounted the huge sky beasts and guided them away from the lakeside. The two creatures were given a wide berth as they lumbered forward, many scrambling in haste to avoid being caught in the titanic beasts’ path.

The agitation in the Darroks, which had emanated ever since they had taken to the skies with their fearsome burden, finally ebbed as they gained distance between themselves and the cages’ occupants. Yet the Darroks’ gazes returned to lock upon the extended contraptions, when their handlers drew them to a halt and allowed them to lie upon

the ground again.

Like a shadowy wraith, the dark figure on the rise then spurred its scaly steed to flight, and glided down to land close to one of the cages. A number of men and Trogens shuddered reflexively, as if an icy chill had abruptly fallen upon them. With the Darroks in their place, the Arcamon signaled for the cages to be fully disassembled. Only the Arcamon could have elicited the assiduous response of the apprehensive laborers, transcending the grave dread that permeated the vicinity of the cages.

Trogens and humans opened the locks that secured iron chain links running between the long, modular segments of the great cages. Slowly, the sides of the cage sections were lowered on their hinges, the latter affixed at the bottom.

The dropping of the sides bared the lengthy, gigantic forms within to the eyes of all gathered, exposing the bodies of the Uktena to a host of individuals seeing the creatures in their entirety for the very first time. Expressions of fear and awe filled the faces of the hushed observers. Only the terrified whinnies and stamps of the frightened horses broke the silence, as their handlers labored to keep the wide-eyed equines under control.

The Arcamon felt no pity for what the Unguhur were about to be subjected to. In his view, the Unguhur should have stayed huddled below the surface, and let the matters of the surface world take their own course. The Unifier would probably have even tolerated the existence of the foolish creatures, if they had chosen to remain sequestered away from the upper world.

Their fateful decision to take the side of the Saxans in the war was now going to bring a terrible wrath down upon them. The Unguhur would reap the lethal harvest of what they had sown.

The two immense, serpentine forms, now still, would soon be brought back to full awareness. It would not be much longer before the Unguhur were introduced to the two creatures of legend, and experienced what they were capable of. The Arcamon savored the thoughts of the Unguhur’s impending doom, with malice-drenched pleasure.

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Worlds of Wonder Author Hop: Interview with Christina from My Seryniti

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 05:11:00 +0000

Today is the first day of the Worlds of Wonder Author Hop, involving a wonderful group of fantasy authors and bloggers. For day one, I am proud to have Christina of the My Seryniti blog as my guest, for a special interview. Hope you enjoy this interview and the events!

1. How long has your blog been around, and what motivated you to start it in the beginning?

I actually started as a gaming blogger. I really enjoy the idea of bringing people the ins and outs, normally secrets or puzzles that I found and thought others might be looking for. I LOVE to game or did before I renewed my love of reading! My first venture into blogging really helped me to feel secure about getting a different kind of blog going. I actually switched to My Seryniti in March of 2012 with my daughter's help. We introduced all of her poetry and added a few book reviews. Then I found the wonderful book review community! That's when I felt like I really started.

2. Have your reasons for doing your blog changed in any way, now that you have done book blogging for awhile?

My idea was the same from the beginning, bring everyone that reads my blog something! Whether it is a review or a cover reveal, something that makes their lives better or easier or just more fun! It's all about the customer service for me. I just love to help others and if my little corner of the internet touches someone, then I've done my job!

3. Since becoming a blog reviewer, has there been any changes in your reading preferences, as far as genres?

Funnily enough I've read a lot more YA than I normally would. Now having a daughter who is in that young adult age she would let me know if she found something fantastic, like The Hunger Games and Twilight. Both she introduced me to! But I've really tried to stay open. I just love to read! And I'll read anything even if the genre sounds a little off to me. You never know when you'll find something you love! I'm still not into Contemporary but I'm trying to keep my mind open and I found that I absolutely LOVE Dystopian! Who knew!!?

4. Has reviewing books generally been rewarding or has it been disappointing? Do you often find yourself discovering hidden gems?

Wonderfully I have found a ton of gems! I've gone so far out of my comfort zone that I've read wonders and met some great authors! Years ago I would stick only to my favorite few authors. I've tossed that idea right out of the window and I'm loving every minute of it! My hubby has this issue currently and I'm slowly introducing him to authors that I think he'll like.

5. I see where you and your daughter EJ are both involved on My Seryniti. Do the two of you like the same type of books in general, or are there some distinct differences in your preferences?

Ohhh... she reads Shakespeare! She is very much into Jane Austen also. Our genres are so totally different but it's great. She's in college so she also will let me know, like for Twilight and Hunger Games, what she's read that she's died over and I do the same for her. But my favorite genres stay around the paranormal and horror. When I need a break from reading horror I will delve into some chick lit and romance. I have yet to read Jane Austen or my daughter's current favorite, Wicked!

6. Has the blog become a fun mother/daughter activity? Any comments on this aspect?

When she's not completely involved in college, yes! Not only does she write but she is in theatre, so needless to say she's very busy but when we can get together, like for our upcoming Zombiepocalypse, I absolutely love every minute! That's one sub genre we just can't get enough of. Zombies!

7. Young adult books have become very popular with all types of adult readers. Why do you think they’ve had such an appeal?

Because a LOT of them are just so much fun to read! Sadly with some adult books you have wonderful plots but you may also have the heaviness of being an adult. My teenage years weren't all peachy but when you think back it's like wow, what if I could go back and do this again? These YA books do just that! And honestly that's what reading is all about, bringing you into another existence and letting you hang out for a while. I've read some seriously amazing YA this year and I honestly didn't really think that was my thing. Boy was I wrong.

8. Are there any particular kinds of characters that appeal to you?

Strong characters! People that fight for what they believe in, no matter what the belief. Characters that learn something! I really love seeing a character grow. It just makes me happy and when you see someone grow I feel like we grow with them.

9. Do you see any voids out there right now, in terms of a kind of character not often encountered in today’s releases that you would like to see more often?

What a great question! Honestly I'm all for the strong woman character! Go girls!! But it would be nice to read about some more men that are the lead characters. Where did all the guys go? I've read so few where the lead character was a male. Not that I don't love strong females but my favorite character right now is Rick on Walking Dead. Can we see more like this please!? ;) Of course I haven't read much romance lately...

10. As a blog reviewer, what do you see as the current trends in indie or traditional publishing, and using your crystal ball do you see any signs of what’s ahead in terms of popular sub-genres?

I really enjoy fairytales. I'm sort of hoping that this trend really picks up. A good fantasy is always lovely to read! Dark Fantasy is even better but I'm thinking the emphasis may continue with the Supernatural. I've read a few Angel stories lately. I'm hoping if the trend continues then these Angels and Gods can get out of their boxes!! I'd love to see more about demons too. I haven't seen very much out there lately with demons and they also need to come out of their proverbial boxes.

11. If you had to give advice to authors in regards to working with book bloggers, what would you tell them?

Hmmm advice... I've received a few perfunctory emails with hardly any information on the book and no information about the author. This is the first impression! My first impression is my website and I want it to look its best! Shouldn't those emails as well? Want I enjoy is when an author really tells me about themselves, why they think I may like the book and then of course about the book! Now I realize we're all too busy to get a ton of info into each email but something that says this is who I am, this is my fabulous book and this is why I think you'd like it! All that time on that book and I get an email that doesn't have anything in it! I want to be enticed!!

12. What have been some of your least favorite things about book blogging?

HA! I always bite off more than I can chew!! I went from reading two books a week, to about seven! It was dragging me down. So I backed off and remembered this is for me and for the fabulous authors I've met. If I push too much nobody is going to get a good review! That's certainly not what I'm here for! AND saying no. It's so hard for me to say no but I'm learning that I have to be honest with which genres I really like and when I can have a review done! I really hate saying no...

13. What have been some of your most rewarding aspects of book blogging?

Meeting fabulous people! I was very shy at first and didn't want to email an author! How presumptuous! They are busy people. But I realized having a blog is a way to get the word out about them and their books! Plus I'm kind of addicted to reading challenges! Another great way to get out of your comfy zone! The blogging world has such a great set of diverse people. I learn from everyone I meet and I love every minute of it!

14. And for a fun question: I see where you love spiders. (I think you would love the Sentinels (also called Aracha) in my Rising Dawn Saga, who are essentially heavenly guardians in various giant spider forms. I also was inspired by Native American lore, as well as some Germanic lore, in regards to my development of these creatures for my books.) Comment a little on the positives you find in spiders, whether from lore or real life observations.

Definitely sounds up my alley!! I started dreaming about spiders quite a few years ago. Some people may be a bit squeamish about that but I really like bugs so I looked them up. Although I'm not Native American that's the lore I found. The fact that they are the mothers, the creators of the universe, just struck a chord with me! I paint, write a little, scrapbook, play in paintshop, anything to keep my creative juices going and when I'm not doing something my little spiders let me know! I just feel better when I'm creating. When anyone finds a spider they come tell me. It is gently pushed outside, or if it's in its own cubby somewhere I normally leave them alone. The symbol of mystery, power and growth really resonates with me and I'm definitely not going to squash that under my shoes!!

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Developing a Sustainable Tyranny: The Subtle Agenda

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 21:21:00 +0000

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are best served through the sanctity of individual rights and private property. Societies are made up of individuals, and empowering individuals has the direct result of best serving the community as a whole. The collectivist will say that big government is required to serve the needs of a population the best, but history shows that it is quite the opposite.

Whenever I hear someone talking about things being done for the "common good", I brace myself, as there really is no such thing when a populace is comprised of distinct individuals. Individuals know what is in their best interests, not government bureaucrats. I always advise people to watch their property and hold onto their wallet when you hear some political sycophant talking about the "common good", as far more often than not it means that you are about to see rights reduced and the fruits of your labor siphoned off.

All countries and societies have flaws, and I won't be sidetracked by the mistakes America has made during its history. The founders of the country left mechanisms in place to deal with significant flaws, and a number of wrongs have been corrected through the years through things like constitutional amendments (though in some cases this has given rise to other evils, but that is the topic for another discussion). None of these things should diminish or obfuscate the irrefutable truth that the majority of those in a low economic bracket do have a much higher standard of living than their counterparts in other nations.

A person in America can be deemed to be poor and still have a house or apartment, air conditioning, television, a car, and other things that are not possessed by the poor of most other countries. Further, at least in the America that was for over two hundred years, that poor individual could climb into the middle class, and perhaps even rise to the upper class in economic terms.

My own family history on my father's side testifies to this, starting with a dirt-poor, uneducated German immigrant to the USA who left his homeland with nothing. He set roots in place, using the blessings of freedom to forge a better life than he could have had in Germany and provide for his family, beginning a line that led to someone like my father, who was a cutting-edge, world-respected cancer researcher in the middle class.

That is a wonderful story and testament to what freedom empowers, and the history of America is filled with countless such individuals exhibiting upward mobility. The trend between generations was that sons and daughters were able to attain a better situation than their parents before them. Life in America for individuals and between generations was anything but stagnant, something that is now occurring as things go badly awry and the nation increasingly embraces collectivist ideologies.

One of the bedrocks involved in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is private property, and anything that seeks to undermine or corrupt the sanctity of private property needs to be resisted and overcome. This brings me to the very cleverly termed "sustainable development", which sounds much nicer than its earlier incarnation, Agenda 21 at the UN, all of which is a sugary sweet cover for that noxious monstrosity known as collectivism.

What really is taking place where you hear these terms bandied about is the development of a sustainable tyranny. It is engineered by individuals who think they know what is best for you, at the nicest level. Many of them, especially the far-left environmentalists who are at the core of this movement, are virulently anti-human. This latter group include the types who would like to see the population reduced swiftly, and some have openly wished for things like pandemics to make this happen (you can look up unapologetic miscreants like "Dr." Eric Pianka, who wished for 90% of the world's population to be killed off for the sake of the environment, even preferring an ebola-like virus to be the method. Not surprisingly, he didn't volunteer to lead that idea by example).

Living in Kentucky, I have seen the real environmentalists who engage in real sustainable development, in the true sense of the terms. They are the country folk, those men and women who love camping, hunting, and fishing, and who own small farms all across the state. It is they who achieve harmony between humankind and the environment, embracing American individualism while supporting a responsible use of the environment so that the activities their fathers and grandfathers enjoyed and introduced them to can be passed onward to their children and grandchildren.

People that live in the rural areas of the state know far more about what threatens the environment, and what should be done than does some bureaucrat in a UN office. They honor the environment, respect it, preserve it, and better it, all the while upholding the ideals of individual freedom and natural rights. They have demonstrated, without question, that environmental responsibility and private property/individual rights are not mutually exclusive.

It is these very people that the cockroaches behind things like Agenda 21 would like to see uprooted and moved into dense-population zones, using tools ranging from zoning, to property taxes, to conservation easement to pressure individuals to go along with their agenda. The plan has been hidden in plain sight for quite some time, put forth in publications such as the Global Biodiversity Assessment and the Agenda 21 publication that you can order in softcover from the UN itself.

There is a long history in the process of moving the UN agenda to the local level here in America. Several administrations, both Democrat and Republican, are guilty in facilitating it. George Bush Sr. signed a soft treaty while both Clinton and Obama issued executive orders that greatly empowered this agenda, doing an effective end-around elected representatives to be carried out by regulatory agencies like the EPA. Growing numbers of property owners have had rude awakenings and experienced the ugly reality, from seeing their property reclassified, to losing it outright, to finding that they can't do anything with the land they own. It is a terrible transgression of Constitutional Rights, and I know in my heart the Founders would be outraged by tragedies like this.

Yet, there are encouraging signs, as increasingly I see resistance forming. Non-Governmental Organizations like ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives), who are instrumental in carrying out this agenda, are being resisted and even driven out from many local communities. Unfortunately, entities like ICLEI have their tentacles in many more.

If you should discover something like ICLEI in place within your own community you should do everything that you possibly can to get them removed. Educate your officials, raise awareness, and strengthen opposition to them. They are antithetical to freedom, and they have no place in a free society with the authoritarian system they work to see implemented.

This is not a situation of co-existence. It is a situation of whether you want to live the one life you have a free society, or one that is collectivist in nature. If you want to honor those who fought for freedom across history, then this is a great way to do that.

History is very clear about which of the two models benefits a given population. The more free a society, the better it tends to be for all, while the more collectivist a society is, the more draconian and tyrannical it becomes.

We are most certainly at a dangerous crossroads, and those who understand what freedom means and what blessings it brings to a country must keep their eyes open and minds vigilant. It is time to roll up our sleeves, and roll back collectivism, and stamp it out wherever it shows its hideous face.

Tonight, Revealing New Horror Genre Project!

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 19:01:00 +0000

7pm Eastern Standard Time tonight, live on Nightmares with Malice Cooper, I will be talking about my newest writing project...The Hellscapes. Yes, I now have tales in the horror genre, and they are coming very, very soon! Get ready to turn up the heat and venture into realms where angels fear to tread!

There are several sites that carry Malice's show, including
www.wflmradio.com
www.metalkultureradio.com
www.trebleradiorocks.com
www.radioentata.com
www.liveparanormal.com

So if you have trouble accessing through one site, here are several options. I will have some giveaways too for those who listen in!

Batten Down the Hatches, Storm Ahead

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 06:53:00 +0000

Watching the results of the elections tonight, I couldn't help but notice that not a thing fundamentally changed from before the voting to after the voting. Democratic Senate, Republican House, and Obama in the White House before the election, Democratic Senate, Republican House, and Obama in the White House after the election.

Observing how people have been interacting, a lot of the tone seemed to resemble the dynamics of a sporting event. A "my team beat your team" kind of of vibe. For all the talk of tolerance by the side of those who won the election, I see very little on display.

Anyone who knows me is well aware that I find those with the R's and D's by their name to essentially be on the same team. Just check who Goldman Sachs got behind. (hint, it's both). The lip service might have some differences, but on most major steps you will see a unity that unveils the truth of the matter.

In reality, today was a lot of theater, and the real business will begin when the lobbyists begin filling the calendars of the incoming representatives and senators, and the executive orders begin issuing from the White house. This is a corporatist dynamic, something that has nothing to do with real capitalism or free markets. The fact that some people title what happens in Washington and Wall Street as capitalism is perhaps one of the greatest tragedies of the whole process.

I find myself in a small number of people that notices a large storm building on the horizon. Wars, rising deficits, and an eroding economy have this country on the brink. An increasing number of people are looking to see how much they can get out of government, and a decreasing number of people are getting businesses started, innovating, and taking risks.

This is a really serious mix of elements, and so very few are regarding things like the deficit with the true urgency that is needed. Money is printed out of thin air, debt ceilings are raised, and the dangerous game will march onward unimpeded.

Add to this mix the near certainty of a major war in the next 1-2 years, and you have a crushing impact on a weakened country. I see a major economic crisis on the horizon, one that will likely become global in nature. When that time arrives, beware the solutions offered by the very ones who are the cause of such chaos.

The motor of this nation was free people embracing self-determination, personal responsibility, and pursuing their ambitions. That motor is grinding to a halt under the weight of a constantly expanding, bloated government, one equipped with a huge surveillance apparatus, a ravenous appetite for spending, and a penchant for squeezing more and more out of those who are productive and successful.

Small business cannot survive this. A middle class cannot survive this. The end game is going to be catastrophic to so many, and sadly most will not realize what the root causes of it are. The pied pipers will lead many with empty promises.

As I always have, I will continue to champion and defend the smallest of minorities in our society; the individual. For it is the individual, and the exercise of free will, short of force or fraud to others, that leads to success and prosperity. When taking risks can meet with great rewards, and when ambitions can be pursued without burdensome hindrances, you will discover what makes a society flourish.

Not many societies truly have the courage to do this, because a society based on individual freedom trusts in the potential for good in others, rather than putting up all manner of "safeguards" because it fears and mistrusts others. Unfortunately, the USA is moving farther and farther away from these kinds of principles.

Perhaps the flame of freedom can be restored here, or maybe one day a new, visionary society will be founded that holds fast to the extraordinary power of individual freedom.

I know one thing for sure. That society will know tremendous prosperity and advancement, and when this new society rises, it must remain vigilant and steadfast always; or it will face the fury of the great storm that is now advancing upon this land.

Batten down the hatches.

Miking the Frog (Literary Underworld Blog Tour Post)

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 13:52:00 +0000

Special note: I am proud to host a guest post from author Angelia Sparrow, an author whose work I think a lot of. This post is part of the Literary Underworld Blog Tour Week, to raise awareness of a great site supporting quality small press and self-published authors by carrying their titles both in an online store as well as setting up at conventions. You've heard me brag about them before! :) Enjoy Angelia's post and then visit the Literary Underworld!

Miking the Frog

The story is told that in the early days of the Muppets, Jim Henson was being interviewed and had taken Kermit with him. As the cameras rolled, the crew realized they couldn't hear Henson at all. They called for a commercial and checked the situation. The sound man had attached the microphone to the Frog.

Interviewing authors is a little like miking the frog. Most of us don't have a lot to say, about ourselves at any rate. We'd rather tell you about all our imaginary friends, about the weird places we vacation and what our next book is about. If you get two or more of us in a room, there is likely to be comparison shopping of publishers.

I had one of those “imaginary friend” moments. I'd taken a writer friend to see JOHN CARTER. I had waited for this movie since I was 10 years old. I'd read all 11 books, owned some of the very short-lived comic book and all the usual fannish things. In fairness, I had already seen it and was eager to share something I loved so very much. My friend immediately translated this into terms of her imaginary friends and talked for an hour and a half about them, instead of sharing the movie experience we had just seen. You ask this friend about herself and she won't have much to say.

The trick is getting the imaginary friends to work for you, instead of hurting your material friends' feelings. Most of the time, this is accomplishable. Sometimes the friends go to Aruba, without so much as a picture post-card, and sometimes they stop talking altogether. But we soldier on.

So what do you do, when¡ªas frequently happens in this day of constant social networking-- someone has miked the frog and started asking the writer questions?

We tapdance as fast as we can, trying to make ourselves as interesting as possible. We share memes and cat pictures and quiz results. We do photo-dumps of everyone else's cat pictures. We interview our characters. We irritate everyone with our politics or religion. We keep to-do lists. We post recipes and excerpts.

But our readers expect good stuff from our blogs, from our facebook, from our twitter. They want more than “State of the Sooky (that's Succubus for the uninitiated): Angel wrote 2000 words, edited a chapter, failed her workout and cleaning, fed the family frozen pizza again and went to bed.” They want more than endless twitter reposts, even the funny ones: I love how bottles of baby powder say "mild," as if "extra spicy” was an option.--Della Buckland

They want more than endless self-promotion. “Fifteen days until my book comes out, here's the cover! Fourteen and a half days, here's a picture that looks like the main character. Fourteen days, here's an excerpt. The book came out, who wants to win a copy?” You get the idea.

There are endless websites with ideas and creative writing prompts to fill your blog with interesting posts. This is what google is for.

On the other hand, I never have to worry about that with my friends at the Literary Underworld. Most of them have blogs that are interesting and far more entertaining than my endless failure at my daily task roster. So I put them on my blog roll and read them, instead of working out.

Yep, you miked the frog.

If you want to let the interesting folks speak, you can find them at http://www.literaryunderworld.com Vampiric sex workers, half-angel steampunk lesbian demon hunters, gay Christmas werewolves, dragons and inventors. Dwarves and Nephilim, and Zombies, oh my.

And just for reading, there is a 15% coupon for use at checkout: LUBLOGTOUR

Angelia Sparrow is the author of 9 novels and over 60 short stories. Her tenth book, HARD REBOOT releases Sept 30, the 11^th, SPELLBOUND DESIRE is coming Oct 26. Her work can be found at http://brooksandsparrow.com and of course at http://www.literaryunderworld.com

My Nominations for Celebrate Womanhood 2012

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 17:29:00 +0000

My Nominations for Celebrate Womanhood 2012

Kriss Morton, the Cabin Goddess!

Jessica Lay, Queen of all that is Badassery!

Today is evidently Celebrate Womanhood Day 2012. I found out about the special day a little late, but I am definitely one who is more than happy to celebrate the greatness of women! I am immensely grateful to so many wonderful women in my own life, who have inspired me, influenced me, taught me, took care of me, been friends to me, and made my life so much better. Many great women have helped make me who I am today :)

While I've had many very special women in my life, today, as a guy, I thought it would be fun to jump in and nominate two in particular to share the title of Woman of the Day for this 2012 celebration of womanhood..

Jessica Lay and Kriss Morton are those women. The dynamic duo have been such amazing friends. Strong, witty, colorful, hard-working, kind, caring ... I could go on forever, but just let me say that it has been a real blessing to have these two women come into my world.

I got to meet Jessica shortly after she had begun to follow Jackie Gamber's activities when Seventh Star Press re-issued Redheart, Book One of Jackie's Leland Dragon Series. Jessica had reviewed the book on her site, Jess Resides Here. Jessica and I began a friendship that grew strongly over the months that followed, leading to the day that she wanted to introduce someone that she had a particular fondness for, a friend of hers from Alaska who was also a blogger like Jess (Kriss' site is The Cabin Goddess).

Needless to say, Jess bringing Kriss into my world was like getting hit with a Tsunami of Awesomeness. Kriss takes no prisoners, knows what she wants and goes after it. Jessica and Kriss are both fiery, passionate women, who both have a tremendous degree of loyalty and integrity. If we are talking about celebrating womanhood, then these two women are outstanding representatives of that wondrous gender! :)

I now have the honor of working with the both of them in First Rule Publicity, and it has already been so fun and wonderful to be on active projects with them and making some new things happen. They both bring so much into a project, from their creativeness, drive, insights, and so much more. They are multi-talented women without question, and I am lucky to be in business with them. Three really is company in this instance! LOL

Jess and Kriss inspire me, they make me smile on the tough days, they give me an ear and a shoulder to lean on when I need it, and I know that in any adversity they have my back, with the ferocity of lionesses. When it comes to Jess and Kriss, we're talking all badassery, and no asshats allowed! Their friendship means so much to me, and while there are many incredible women that have made such an impact in my life, I wanted to take today to give some special recognition to these two bright lights in my own life.

They rock, they rule, they embody what makes women so great! Jessica Lay and Kriss Morton are my Women of the Day! Celebrate Womanhood! They DO make life a grand adventure! :)

New SSP Kickstarter Project for Book Involving Writers Like Neil Gaiman, Orson Scott Card, and more!

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:11:00 +0000

Big Announcement: Would you like to help a small press release an incredible project? Please visit our Kickstarter Page for full info and a short video about The Writers' Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy, a fantastic book project including collaborators such as Neil Gaiman, Orson Scott Card, Harry Turtledove, Joe Haldeman, James Gunn, and many more. Help Seventh Star Press make this project happen! It will be a book of tremendous valuable for science fiction/fantasy writers everywhere! Spread the word!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/seventhstarpress/the-writers-workshop-of-science-fiction-and-fantas

New Film Project!

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 20:02:00 +0000

Last thursday evening I got a green light on a new movie project. I have been wanting to do a new movie project since Swordbearer ended, but I'm not one to just do something for the sake of doing it. Thankfully, a great situation rose up involving an executive producer that I have a great deal of respect for. I have agree to direct and serve as one of the producers for this project, which now has a green light!

The project is indie in nature, but it will be of the kind where the focus is on achieving a high production value and bringing together the best team possible. I can't say too much about the project at the moment, as we have not done a formal announcement on it yet, but I can say that it is science fiction in nature, will be around 20 minutes long, and will contain some amazing martial arts-based fight sequences. Intrigued? Well, I sure was, especially after reading the short story that it is based upon.

We are looking to do the shooting sometime around December. I have just begun to assemble the team, and it will take some time to identify a couple of women and a man who have the level of martial arts skills and camera presence that these roles require (the other role for a male is already cast).

I'm definitely excited about doing a new movie project and it has been made clear that this project is to be debuted in the early part of 2013, so it won't take long until the premiere! I'll be sure to keep everyone posted!

A New Trailer and a Few Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 17:34:00 +0000

Part of the work I do includes marketing and publicity activity on behalf of Seventh Star Press, for all the authors. My latest task involved putting a video trailer together for R.J. Sullivan's latest release, the paranormal thriller Haunting Obsession.

It turned out very well and it was fun to do a video project again. We got a great piece of music from JaN PuLSFoRD (yes, that is the correct way to write her name!), and the wonderful Lily Monstemeat did some photo modeling for the Maxine Marie images used in the video. We are waiting for the Kindle version of RJ's book to go live today before we unveil it, but I think everyone is going to like it a lot.

The week is going well, and I'll be getting a nice chunk of writing done, including work on short stories and the 4th Rising Dawn Saga book. That part has been enjoyable!

Otherwise, I'm trying to ignore all the hoopla of the USA's election season. In my view, no matter who is elected we will still be heading down the same disastrous road as we move farther and farther away from the ideals that this country once embraced. Most bothersome is that I can see things happening that are not far removed from the course of events in the Rising Dawn Saga, especially The Seventh Throne. The fact is, the economy is in a rotten state, and they can't hide this for too much longer. No more kicking the can with "bailouts" or printing money out of thin air via central banks like the Federal Reserve (which is neither Federal nor a reserve, once you learn about it).

Nearly all the small business owners I know are either closing, shrinking, or digging in. It doesn't bode well, and there's no relief on the horizon as everything looks to be going up in costs, taxes, and more. In reality, the two-party system in the USA is really a one-party SYSTEM, one that ultimately controls the choices available to the public.

Two wings of the same bird, 2 sides of the same coin, 2 gangs under the same leader. They both spew different rhetoric, but their actions are the same. It is irrefutable that Obama and Bush alike expanded spending, war, and domestic "security" that is more or less Big Brother on steroids. Both have wielded executive orders to act like kings, bypassing congress entirely. Would be nice to see people get behind someone that didn't have an R or a D next to their name, who actually cared about lifting the burdens from those who produce, create, invent, and innovate. That's the motor that will lift things to where all benefit.

Hopefully there are a few like Ian Rafferty out there, or Sheriff Chris Howard, or Gregory Andreas, who will be willing to stand for what is right. I'd like to think there are, at least. I'm thinking about these things a lot as I write the 4th Rising Dawn Saga book, and I really believe this book is going to be a special installment of the series. I'll be sure to keep you all posted, and in the meantime, keep fighting the good fight!

Road adventures on my way to the Summit!

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 17:00:00 +0000

The Business of Writing International Summit in Louisville this past weekend was wonderful, but it involved one of my worst road stories yet!

Founded and run by Peggy DeKay and Larry DeKay, BoWIS is a great writers conference that made its debut this year. I can definitely say it is going to grow fast, as it was very well-run, guests were treated wonderfully, and it was organized extremely well. I had been invited to give a seminar on Fan Conventions, Book Fairs, and Writers Conference, a seminar on using Kindle Select effectively, and to serve on a panel regarding marketing for authors. Do to a last minute panelist cancellation, I ended up serving on a panel discussing writing habits on Sunday.

For me it is always fun to go to an event that is non-genre in focus, as I tend to find myself being an advocate, and sometimes an ambassador, of sorts for the wonderful world of speculative fiction. I take that very seriously, as speculative fiction has had a long hard fight for respect in general literary circles, and while there's been great progress, that effort continues.

I almost didn't get off the ground regarding the conference, as when I was driving down at 6am from Lexington to Louisville on Saturday morning I had a highway car breakdown. I was going at about 70mph when a light came on telling me that my air bags were off, and then the radio started flickering, and then the headlights began dimming. I was able to coast into a gas station off an exit that was fortunately close, but I almost didn't make it there.

Thankfully, Triple A was there with a tow truck within about 30 minutes. Triple A is amazing and I encourage any author that does a lot of travel to become a member. They've bailed me out of car situations several times over the years. Anyhow, I had the car towed all the way back to Lexington, to the garage that normally services it. As I just had an alternator put in less than 2 months ago, it was grim news to hear that the alternator was faulty. Luckily, it was still under warranty so I didn't get socked to badly on the costs.

Timing is everything though, and I did not know whether or not they would get the new one placed in, but in about two hours they had done so. I had taken a Taxi back to my house to work on connecting with everyone, and my sister was kind enough to run out and give me a ride back to the station to get my car back. I drove straight from the service center to Louisville, literally parking my car, walking into the conference site, and heading into my first panel (just a few minutes underway at that point) and going straight to the stage to join my co-panelists. When I look back and see how many things had to come together to allow me to do that right on the wire, I find it really incredible.

Many good friends were there, like Dave Mattingly of Blackwyrm, and Michael Williams, great fantasy author and professor at the University of Louisville. Of course, Peggy and Larry "Right Here...Right Now!" Dekay were on hand. I met many new friends, from author Jacob Bell, to social media guru Paul Clifford, to Sheri McGuinn, an author from Arizona, and others.

I hope I was able to impart some useful information to the attendees, as I drew a lot into my seminars from my personal experiences. I really enjoyed talking with the attendees and my friends, and was able to round out the weekend getting a late lunch with Peggy, Larry, David, and Paul, which was a wonderful way to end my first visit to the Summit. I have been invited for next year and definitely encourage everyone to check this event out. Well-run, content rich, and highly enjoyable. The Business of Writing International Summit was a hit and is now on the map!

Big Giveaway Contest Including a Kindle Touch 3G!

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 07:25:00 +0000

Welcome to my first hosted contest, which features a number of wonderful prizes including a Kindle Touch 3G as part of the grand prize! Prizes include bundles of eBooks, signed softcovers, an Amazon Gift Card, and more!

Now for the formal stuff. I will be fulfilling all eBooks and book prizes relating to myself and Seventh Star Press authors directly, as well as the Kindle Touch 3G and the Amazon Gift Card. The additional eBooks from other authors will be fulfilled by the authors themselves, directly. The authors donating the additional eBook prizes, JH Glaze, Dianne Gardner, Gwen Perkins, Rachel Hunter, and David Guyton assume all responsibility for fulfillment and delivery of their titles to the prize winners. I have asked them to provide prizes within the week following the close of the contest on September 9th.

eBook and book prizes can be awarded to international residents, but Grand Prize and Prize #2 are to be awarded to US/Canadian residents only.

Also, this promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability.

I am using the RaffleCopter system where you can earn extra entries merely by liking the Facebook pages or following the Twitter accounts of various authors and some bloggers. I encourage you to get as many entries as possible!

Here is a full list of the prizes!

Grand Prize: A Kindle Touch 3G, plus 3 Stephen Zimmer eBooks of your choice, 4 additional SSP eBooks of your choice (choose between Jackie Gamber, D.A. Adams, Michael West, H. David Blalock, Steven Shrewsbury, and R.J. Sullivan), and 9 bundle of eBooks from participating authors:

J.H. Glaze: 5 pack including The Spirit Box, Northwest, Forced Intelligence, and The Horror Challenge Volumes I and II.
David Guyton: Mighty Hammer Down
Rachel Hunter: Empyreal Fate
Gwen Perkins. The Universal Mirror
Dianne Gardner: Deception Peak

Prize #2: $25 Amazon.com Gift Card plus , 3 Stephen Zimmer eBooks of your choice, 4 additional SSP eBooks of your choice (choose between Jackie Gamber, D.A. Adams, Michael West, H. David Blalock, Steven Shrewsbury, and R.J. Sullivan), and bundle of eBooks from participating authors JH Glaze, David Guyton, Rachel Hunter, Gwen Perkins, Dianne Gardner (titles included in description of grand prize).

Prize #3: Signed softcover of your choice: The Exodus Gate or Crown of Vengeance

Prize #4: Signed softcover of your choice: The Exodus Gate or Crown of Vengeance

Prize #5: Choice of all 3 available Rising Dawn Saga eBooks (The Exodus Gate, The Storm Guardians, The Seventh Throne), or all three available Fires in Eden series eBooks (Crown of Vengeance, Dream of Legends, Spirit of Fire) from Stephen Zimmer

Prize #6: Choice of all 3 available Rising Dawn Saga eBooks (The Exodus Gate, The Storm Guardians, The Seventh Throne), or all three available Fires in Eden series eBooks (Crown of Vengeance, Dream of Legends, Spirit of Fire) from Stephen Zimmer

Prize #7: The Seventh Star Singles from Stephen Zimmer, eBooks include Lion Heart, Land of Shadow, Into Glory Ride, and Temples Rising

Prize #8: The Seventh Star Singles from Stephen Zimmer, eBooks include Lion Heart, Land of Shadow, Into Glory Ride, and Temples Rising

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contest and Some Writing Updates

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 22:44:00 +0000

Getting ready for another week of adventures, involving things with me and with the rest of my SSP family. RJ Sullivan's new book Haunted Obsession gets announced Monday, so I'll be heavily involved with the outreach on that one, including the announcement of his blog tour, reveals of the cover art, his limited hardcover offer and more. I always love the energy of book launches, and I think it is really cool that SSP has a a paranormal thriller in the catalog too. RJ's a really excellent writer, so give this one a look for sure.

As for me, watch out for my very first contest. Yes, that's right, a big giveaway, with a very nice grand prize. I will be using a system where you can get extra entries for liking/adding some authors who are participating along with me, so you'll have a chance to accumulate a few more entries.

I'm continuing work on the new SSP site as well as my own, and expect those to get fully shored up in the next several days. In the meantime, if you wanted to pick up some books, or posters and t-shirts featuring some of the artwork, head on over to: http://www.seventhstarpress.com/ssp-store/

I've been writing a lot this past week, making more good progress on the 4th Rising Dawn Saga book. Was working on a Gregory section, one for Dagian, and another for Jovan earlier today, in fact. Going to be some big surprises in this one for sure.

Short-story wise, I'm polishing some of the stories in the new horror series I've mentioned before, as well as a few intended for the Chronicles of Ave and the Annals of the Rising Dawn. I think we are very, very close to seeing a number of these ready. Beyond that, I've been fleshing out some ideas for a new YA urban fantasy/paranormal series that I've been envisioning. I'll keep everyone posted on that front.

Also would like to thank everyone for the kind notes and words of encouragement about my mother, who is making progress following the surgery she had two weeks ago. She's largely back to her usual self, though her vision will take awhile to improve due to the nature of the surgery.

So that's it for the moment! I'll be sure to let everyone know the details about the contest when it is ready early in the week!

8 eBooks for Free on Amazon Kindle from SSP!

noreply@blogger.com (sgzimmer) — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:26:00 +0000

8 eBooks from SSP for Free on Amazon Kindle today and tomorrow!

Seventh Star Press has an open house today with 8 eBooks being offered for free on Amazon Kindle, including two of mine, Crown of Vengeance and The Exodus Gate. Try some new books out, and download all eight! The list with direct links to the Kindle pages for the books is at: http://www.seventhstarpress.com