Magic Jar Publishing

Rift of Askrah Book 3: Gather Now Available

2014-02-10T08:34:00.000-08:00

Rift of Askrah Book 3: Gather is now available on Amazon and Smashwords. It will be filtering out to other retailers such as B&N and Apple in the coming days or weeks. You can get it now though if you don't want to wait for one of those stores. Just follow the links below.

Amazon U.S.

Smashwords.

Don't forget you can begin the adventure with Book 1: Fracture free, just visit my books page for a link to your favorite ebook store. Let us know what you think with a rating/review, comment, or using #RiftofAskrah online.

Gather, Book 3 in the Rift of Askrah series, continues the adventures of Nihlen Draven and his companions. After the confrontation in Falshia, devastating new facts have been revealed. For anyone to claim the title of King of Askrah will come with a price too great to be paid.

With this revelation, the relationship between members of the group becomes strained, and each has their own ideas of how their new problems should be handled. For the first time, troubles within their friendships are just as dangerous as threats from outside.

To make matters worse, a time-limit has been imposed, giving them only one year before they return to Askrah and determine who will claim the land, and all that goes with it.

It will take every bit of strength Nihen and his friends can muster to see the coming storm through to the other side.

RoA 3 Cover Plus More

2014-02-01T11:00:00.000-08:00

As promised, here it is!

So, it obviously doesn't mash with the covers for Fracture and Shatter. Unfortunately, I am unable to continue with that line of covers. That has been the main thing holding up the release of Gather. Because this has been a problem since I first began this series two years ago, I've decided to create a simpler line of covers.

So there will also be new covers for Fracture and Shatter. And here they are.

These covers are very simple, but from here I'm planning to quickly finish this series. After I've written and released all of the books, I will worry about the cosmetic stuff. It's not how things are usually done in this business, but sometimes life takes strange turns. I don't want to keep readers waiting anymore, and the release of each book after Fracture has taken so much longer than I ever wanted. This should help speed things up significantly.

I will be changing the covers for Fracture and Shatter shortly before the release of Gather.

Have something to say about the cover changes? Share your thoughts here, on Twitter using #RiftofAskrah, or message me any other way you can think of or find.

Rift of Askrah Book 3: Gather Product Description

2014-01-29T11:00:00.000-08:00

Rift of Askrah Book 3 Release Date!

2014-01-27T11:00:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to announce that Rift of Askrah Book 3: Gather will be available for sale on Amazon and Smashwords on February 10, 2014! It will follow to other retailers shortly after that. Be sure to spread the word (#RiftofAskrah), and catch up with the first two books!

More info coming soon, including Book 3's cover, product description, plus a couple of other surprises!

Fracture

Amazon - B&N - Smashwords

Shatter

Amazon - B&N - Smashwords

A Long Awaited Announcement! - Other News to Come!

2014-01-25T10:48:00.003-08:00

Sound the trumpets! After much waiting there is new news to report regarding the Rift of Askrah series. Keep an eye open for details in the coming days and weeks. Be sure to catch up on Book 1: Fracture and Book 2: Shatter! Use #RiftofAskrah on twitter!

Fracture Links

Amazon - B&N - Smashwords

Shatter Links

Amazon - B&N - Smashwords

And remember to check back soon for more upcoming information!

Great Book Giveaway With Author Ellie Casey - Includes Rift of Askrah

2013-01-03T17:42:00.003-08:00

There is a wonderful giveaway being hosted this month by Author Ellie Casey. There are all kinds of great reads from YA to adult fiction. Some books are completely free, while others can be won in a giveaway. There's great chances to get some great books, so please stop by and show your support! The first book in my fantasy series, Rift of Askrah Book 1: Fracture, is one of the books available, but you don't have to enter to win it, as it is completely free!

Rift of Askrah Series Now on Nook

2012-11-28T14:14:00.003-08:00

You can now get books 1 and 2 in the Rift of Askrah series on the Barnes and Noble Nook website.

Book 1 (Free!): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rift-of-askrah-book-1-benjamin-andrews/1113847399?ean=2940045085885

Book 2 ($3.99): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rift-of-askrah-book-2-benjamin-andrews/1113847402?ean=2940045085908

Expanded Distribution of the RoA Series

2012-11-13T19:06:00.002-08:00

With the release of Shatter, book 2 in the Rift of Askrah series, I've decided to return to other venues outside of Amazon. Books 1 and 2 are now available on Smashwords, with distribution to other major retailers in the coming weeks.

Further good news, book 1 is now available for free! You will be able to download this book at no charge on all websites once distribution is finished, but you can get it free now at Smashwords. When Amazon decides to acknowledge the price change, it will also be free there.

Book 2 is also available on Smashwords for $3.99, as well as Amazon. Distribution will occur with other retailers in the coming weeks.

You can get them at the links below.

Rift of Askrah Book 1: Fracture - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/254864

Rift of Askrah Book 2: Shatter- https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/254869

Rift of Askrah Book 2: Shatter Available 11/13/12!

2012-11-13T06:31:00.001-08:00

I'm happy to announce that Rift of Askrah Book 2: Shatter was uploaded last night and is now available for purchase.

I'd like to apologize to those who have been waiting. It's been quite a long time between the first and second books.

Without further ado, here's the cover and blurb. You'll find the link to purchase below the Product Description..

Product Description

Shatter, Book 2 in the Rift of Askrah series, is the continuation of the events surrounding Nihlen Draven, heir to the throne of the nation of Draven. Having reached safety in the land of Elharlia, the Prince and his friends must begin planning to fight back against their enemies, which only seem to increase by the day.

Secrets are discovered, and new threats identified. The world they are only starting to understand is changing in front of them, showing everyone how little they truly know. The truths discovered about Askrah and abilities only lead to more questions, and more danger.

The age is turning, and the first steps will be taken toward an era unlike anything ever seen before. Who will be standing at the top when it is all over is impossible to say.

Grab your copy here: http://amzn.to/W5pfw5

Thanks in advance, and I hope you enjoy it! If you haven't read book 1 yet you can get it here: http://amzn.to/SP5uvi

Rift of Askrah Book 1 On Sale for $2.99

2012-09-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm running a sale on Rift of Askrah Book 1: Fracture. Now you can get it for $2.99 (regularly $3.99). Go pick yourself up a copy! You can learn more about the book below, or by following the link to Amazon.

Product Description

Nihlen Draven lives what most would consider the perfect life of royalty. As heir to the throne of the nation of Draven, he has been groomed for his future since birth. But as he approaches adulthood, his heart yearns for the freedom to choose his own destiny.

In the neighboring nation of Rinh, a young street thief named Marina does her best to survive the mean streets of the city with her best friend Cal. When a questionable contact from their past offers them more gold than either of them can imagine for a simple kidnap and ransom of a foreign prince, Marina jumps at the opportunity to extract herself and her friend from the poverty of Rinh.

But as the kidnapping goes sour and Draven falls into the hands of Rinh, a strange ability surfaces in the young prince, and the shadows of a forgotten nation called Askrah leak into the world once more.

In Fracture, Book 1 of the Rift of Askrah series, join Nihlen as he unlocks the secrets of the Eye of Kings and embarks on an epic quest to regain his kingdom.

You can download it, read reviews, or learn more on Amazon. http://amzn.to/SP5uvi

Three Day Free Promotion For Rift of Askrah Book 1: Fracture

2012-09-17T03:37:00.002-07:00

Take your chance to pick up the first book in this series for free! Available September 17th - 19th on Amazon.You can check out My Books Page to learn more about the book.

Thanks, and I hope you enjoy it!

New Covers and More for the Rift of Askrah Series

2012-08-21T13:38:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned some time ago, there has been a cover change in place for the cover of Rift of Askrah Book 1: Fracture. I'm happy to announce I now have it. Without further ado, here it is:

In addition, I've also acquired the cover for book 2, which will be out very soon!

I hope you are all as excited about these new covers as I am. Keep an eye out for book two, which will be coming soon!

Several Updates on the Rift of Askrah Series

2012-06-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I updated on the status of this series. Starting with book 1. Yesterday I released an updated version of the book that corrects some errors and has some other small revisions. You're certainly welcome to rush off and get the updated version (You can get it for free if you've already downloaded it. Just contact Amazon). However, in preparation for the release of book 2 in the Rift of Askrah series, I've commissioned a new cover for book 1. When I last spoke with the artist it was nearly complete, so I hope to possibly have the updated cover up by the end of this week. I'll put out another blog post as soon as I have the new cover in my possession. I think readers will really like it, so feel free to wait a little while before getting the updated version. Here's a link to the page on Amazon in case you can't: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0059XRUJW

Book 2 is still in test reading (About halfway through. One of my readers has been ill, and hasn't been able to get it done as fast). Once I've received that feedback I'll put the finishing touches on the manuscript. I'll be working with the artist on the cover for book 2 as soon as book 1 is complete, so hopefully the manuscript will be ready by the time I have the cover, and I can get it out to those who have been waiting.

I would like to sincerely apologize for how long it has taken to get the second book out. Some personal stuff in my life has a way of getting in the way, and sometimes it can't be avoided.

The good news is book 3 is over halfway complete. Should the universe smile upon me, the remaining books in this series will be out faster.

That about wraps it up for updates on this series for now. Thank you readers, I hope you enjoy these works.

Update - Rift of Askrah Book 2: Shatter Status

2012-04-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to put a post out to update on the status of the second book in the Rift of Askrah series. The good news is, the book is very close to being complete! At this stage, I'm wrapping up the final rounds of editing, and working out what the cover art will be. I will make the announcement of a release date when I debut the cover, so look forward to that.

I've also got a good head start now on writing the rest of the series, and hope to produce the remaining books at a quicker pace. Thanks to all who have read so far!

Socialpunk By Monica Leonelle

2012-04-15T06:00:00.005-07:00

Today I'm posting about Socialpunk, a new book by author Monica Leonelle. This is book 1 of 3, with the final two books being released throughout this year. I hope you enjoy it! The author is also running a giveaway in honor of the release, and is offering some pretty great prizes. You can find the information in the widget at the bottom of the post.

Product Description

Ima would give anything to escape The Dome and learn what’s beyond its barriers, but the Chicago government has kept all its citizens on lockdown ever since the Scorched Years left most of the world a desert wasteland. When a mysterious group of hooded figures enters the city unexpectedly, Ima uncovers a plot to destroy The Dome and is given the choice between escaping to a new, dangerous city or staying behind and fighting a battle she can never win.

Prologue

After playing God for six years with the world he created, he couldn’t control any of his subjects, none at all. Over the years, he had watched them evolve and become the sum of their own choices rather than the sum of his; and for that, he regretted ever giving them life.

A small, blinking red light from just inside his eyelid reminded him of the news they sent him earlier that morning. The company had cancelled his funding and would shut down his project within three months. According to them, the project cost too much and took up too much space, and the inconclusive results couldn’t be published reputably, now or in the future.

Six years of his work, tens of thousands of lives at stake—and he could do nothing to save any of it. He bowed his head, letting his chin rest on the rim of his breakfast smoothie. The smoothie reeked of powder—crushed pills—but he supposed he had better get used to it. He wouldn’t be able to afford the luxury of real food after they canned him.

He closed his eyes and called up the camera view of one of his favorites, number 3281. She fascinated him; he couldn’t deny it. When he had designed her, her pre-teen rebelliousness lit fire in her eyes. A survivor, he’d thought. He’d meant for her to have it all—to grow up, to get married to the love of her life, and to have a beautiful family of her own someday.

But he had only given her sadness so far. Instead of creating a strict father, he had given her an abusive one. Instead of creating a loving boyfriend, he had given her a friend who could never love her. And instead of creating a strong, proud mother, he had given her a meek one, who watched the whole thing unfold and did nothing about it.

He looked at his last and final creation sitting in the chair across from him—his own son, not awakened yet. The law forbade him to have any children of his own, so this boy would substitute.

But he had done the unthinkable with this creation—he had bestowed on it his own thoughts, emotions, and decision-making processes. He’d given the boy his own mind, his own physical characteristics, his own wants and desires.

He had never done so with any of the others because of the dangers of investing too heavily in any one of his subjects. But who could he kid? He had not stayed objective thus far, watching some of his subjects more closely than others, wishing for the happiness of some at the expense of others. He had become an abomination, a monster of his own doing, who had created subjects only to watch them suffer.

He couldn’t forgive himself; not now, not ever. His eyes lingered on the vial that sat next to his breakfast smoothie, that he’d stowed away for the day when they destroyed all his work, his entire world. He would save it, tuck it away for now, for as long as he could protect them. When things spun out of his control, he would drink it and end himself the way he had ended them.

In the ancient stories, gods frequently gave their sons as gifts. Now, he would give his son as a gift to her, number 3281. So she could be happy in her last months on earth, before they destroyed her with the rest of them.

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Monica Leonelle is a well-known digital media strategist and the author of three novels. She blogs at Prose on Fire (http://proseonfire.com) and shares her writing and social media knowledge with other bloggers and authors through her Free Writer Toolkit (http://proseonfire.com/free-writer-toolkit).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book of the Day - Flurries of Words

2012-04-13T23:02:00.001-07:00

I came home tonight to find an email in my inbox letting me know my fantasy novel, Rift of Askrah Book 1: Fracture, was showcased as the book of the day today on Flurries of Words, a book blog in the United Kingdom. You can check it out here.

Thank you for showcasing my book on your website! It's too bad I was out all day, since it's mostly over as I make this post. Still, it was great to see!

Be sure to visit http://flurriesofwords.blogspot.co.uk/ and check out the other books they showcase!

Some Self-Serving Gloating

2012-03-21T17:26:00.000-07:00

The writing game can be difficult, so you definitely take all the big joyous moments to heart, especially in the early days. Last week I finished up a promo event for my book, Rift of Askrah Book 1: Fracture, on Amazon via the KDP Select program.

It was a rather successful promotion that landed me many new milestones. I've hesitated doing this since the promotion ended, but I've decided I want to share my happiness. I have a screenshot here of my book hitting #1 in my category on the free list. Right there next to a George R. R. Martin book, so that's quite an honor!

I also took one of the product page:

I know if might be in slightly bad taste to do so, but it's a huge milestone for me as a writer, so after wrestling with myself about it for the past week, I figured what the heck. I'm proud of it, so I'm going to share it. Thanks again to everyone who helped make it happen!

Find Something New to Read: Ebooktop100

2012-03-14T08:00:00.002-07:00

Simply browsing through the Amazon store isn't always enough to find something new to read. There's a lot of websites out there to find suggestions at. A great one to check out is Ebooktop100. This website uses a different approach from the five star rating system. There's top 100 lists for lots of different categories, so there's no problem finding whatever you're into.

Stop by and check it out. There's new books being added all the time.

New Book Cover for RoA Now Live!

2012-02-10T12:44:00.000-08:00

I've received the new cover from my artist, and it's now live! Check it out!

Series Updates!

2012-01-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

Just putting an update out there about my projects. Rift of Askrah Book 2: Shatter has now entered the editing phase! I'm going to let the completed draft sit for a while, and then get started. I'm also in talks with an an artist, John Ward (http://www.50dollarcovers.com/), to have a new cover made for Rift of Askrah Book 1: Fracture. Hopefully I'll also be able to commission the cover for Book 2 shortly after.

As for Into the Devil's Eden, the draft of Book 1 is about 75% of the way completed. Hopefully I'll be able to finish it just before I begin editing RoA Book 2. I've been contemplating holding onto this series until I've written all the books, but that's just an idea at the moment.

There will be more to come, so follow for future updates!

Interview With Suddenly Books

2012-01-10T08:28:00.000-08:00

Today I'm featured in an interview I did with Erika over at Suddenly Books, talking a bit about me and my book. You can check out the interview here.

Tomorrow I'll be making another appearance in a guest blog I wrote for her website. I hope you'll stop by, and check them both out. Thanks again to Erika for interviewing me!

Suddenly Books

A Post By The Authors At Four-Moons Press

2011-12-31T06:00:00.000-08:00

Today I'm bringing some content from other writers. Eric Zawadzki and Mathew Schick are the joint authors of Kingmaker, a fantasy novel currently available for sale. You can find the links at the bottom of this post, or learn more about it on their blog, Four-Moons Press. Today, their blog is also featuring a post by me about the types of ruling parties found within my own fantasy novel, Rift of Askrah Book 1: Fracture. You can find that post here.

The post below is from these writers. It hits on points many writers, and even anyone really, can appreciate. Enjoy the post, and be sure to check them out.

Out of Our Heads, Out of the House

Writing is often a lonely pursuit requiring countless hours typing away in a room with no human interaction. After a few hundred hours of work, a rough draft emerges, which feels great but is only the beginning. Rough drafts are not fit for human consumption – like a bushel of mown wheat. Letting someone read a second or third draft is not much of an improvement. It is approximately equivalent of giving them five pounds of flour or a pan filled with uncooked bread dough. They’ll eventually become nourishing and delicious food, but they’re not ready for the dinner party, yet. Maybe by the fourth draft I feel comfortable letting a few select people (beta readers) look at it. Everyone else has to wait for the sixth (or higher) draft, whichever one Matt and I can reasonably consider finished – baked to a golden brown.

Why on Earth would an extrovert like me spend a thousand hours or more in a room alone?

The process of writing is a necessary step in a form of communication that demands an incredible amount of time and energy to execute. I’m not some kind of born storyteller who can improvise some kind of incredible story at a moment’s notice. Oh I do alright in face-to-face interactions, but all my dialogue is rough draft material. A nugget of awesome here and there with way too much filler and random stumbles to make me feel like I’m actually doing a good job of engaging my audience. I know people who are amazing storytellers (my wife, for example). They can retell a story I’ve heard a hundred times, and it is always fun to listen to. If anything, they refine the story with each retelling, polishing it until it fits together like a clockwork device.

The more I retell a story, the less likely I am to include the details that make it sensical. I really can’t explain it. Maybe I kind of get bored with the story and don’t put enough energy into it. Perhaps I’m afraid that I’m monopolizing the conversation because I used to have serious problems with that, so I’d rather throw in a brief few lines and yield the floor to someone else.

Put me in front of a computer, though, and all of that hesitation melts away. Sure, I may spend an hour composing an email or forum post, but it is my time to spend, and it only takes a minute or two to read. My Internet posts are probably only second draft material, but that sure beats the meandering first drafts that come out of my mouth every day. I can be so much more precise, so much more eloquent in writing. Sometimes I can even be more interesting or more amusing than I am in real life.

I love communicating in writing. Sure, the written word lacks body language and tone of voice. You can’t correct a minor misstep mid-story, either. But writing scores over the spoken word in some important ways. First, if I’m willing to spend the time to rewrite, revise, and edit, I can greatly improve upon the way I express an idea. Second, if I put in that extra work, every person who reads it will receive the best retelling of the story I can give it. Third, the potential size of the story’s audience is not limited to people I meet in the flesh; in fact, it is theoretically infinite.

A book on a shelf is like a storyteller standing at the front of the room. Given the opportunity, it will tell the reader a story lasting many hours. The tale flows from author to reader, but communication is never intended to be one-way. Each reader brings his experiences and interpretations to the text.

After so many years of this story floating around in our heads, growing like a seed, Kingmaker is on the loose. It is in the wild – like an email already sent, a forum post already read, or spoken words we can no longer take back. We have taken care to craft it into something we’re content to let out of the house, though.

As early readers finish reading Kingmaker, I’m starting to see that flow of communication reverse. People are asking us questions and starting conversations with me about what they read. Some think I should know all the answers, not realizing how much a world and its characters can take on lives of their own. Others float theories and participate (perhaps unwittingly) in the creative process of writing the sequel.

Thus beginning the cycle anew.

You can learn more about these authors or their book Kingmaker at the following websites:

Status Check: Rift of Askrah Book 2: Shatter

2011-11-06T08:00:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to post an update about the next book in the Rift of Askrah series. Book 2: Shatter is currently past the halfway mark in the initial write through. I'm still trying to figure out the cover situation though. I did the cover for Book 1: Fracture, but I'm not getting anything out of my own designs this time. Once I figure it out though, I will update with the cover.

I've also written the product description for Book 2, and you can find it here

If you haven't read book 1 yet, you can check it out here

25 Days of Twisted

2011-10-03T13:48:00.000-07:00

Last night I confirmed with another blogger, Rachel, who runs a blog called Enchanted, that I will be participating in an event she is setting up to run through this month called "25 Days of Twisted." Each day will have an author who writes in a Halloween-friendly genre (fantasy, sci-fi, thrillers, etc.), making a post about whatever they wish.

My post will contain information about Rift of Askrah Book 1: Fracture, the first book in my fantasy series. I also talk about the writing process, and give my words of advice to other writers. My article will post on the 28th, but I encourage visitors to head over to Rachel's blog using the link above, and read the posts written by other authors throughout this month.

I'd like to thank Rachel for this opportunity, and look forward to my guest post on the 28th of October.

Rift of Askrah Book 1: Fracture - Showcased on a Few Different Sites

2011-09-19T14:42:00.000-07:00

I noticed today that my book was featured on a few sites, and I didn't notice they had posted. Here are some links to them.

Indie Snippets - A website that features a snippet from books.

Indie Books Blog - Features interviews with indie authors

Thanks to both of these websites for featuring me!