Faith's book, A Mighty Fortress, primarily follows Joshua, his sister Ruth, and Jed, an outlaw. Jed wants out of the lawless life he has sunk into, but he wonders if he is in too deep to be able to escape now. Joshua and his sister Ruth are traveling by Stagecoach to join their parents in Montana, that is, until Jed and a gang of outlaws attack the stagecoach and send Joshua and Ruth fleeing for their lives into the wild Wyoming and Montana territory. All three are running -- the hunter and the hunted. What will happen when they meet?
Although Western fiction doesn't really turn my crank, I found this book to be a powerful Christian story right from the very first chapter! If you like Western books, and want a heart pounding story with Christian values, then look no further - this is the book for you. And guess what? It's the first of a series. *yay!*
Please check out Faith’s book and website!:
Website/blog: http://HymnsoftheWest.tk and www.faithblum.wordpress.com
Her book - A Mighty Fortress on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GPDQVC2
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HymnsoftheWest
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Faith_Blum
The Heroes of Ravenford is a brand new start to a brand new fantasy series, one of which I am very excited about!
It follows Glolindir, a young elf of a diminishing race, and his struggle to find his purpose in his world. I won't say too much myself, because I *Plan* (note, I said PLAN) to post my review of it very soon. So, I will just give you the synopsis for now:
"Magic is Easy or so Glolindir thought, until he came face to face with his first live monster. Casting spells was not so simple with death breathing down his neck. His story might have ended there if not for three gifted youths: Seth, the mysterious halfling with the moves of an assassin; Lloyd, the spiritblade whose fiery swords are whirlwind-fast; and Aksel, the gnome whose very touch can heal.
Yet that was just the beginning of their adventures, for dark shadows loom over the little town of Ravenford. The townsfolk quickly turn to these newcomers, who may indeed be their only hope. From the old ruined keep southwest of town to hidden caves in the western hills, through dark tunnels, secret passages, concealed rooms and magical mirrors, they must face mythical monsters, evil creatures, and dark wizards, each more perilous than the last. Can they rise to the challenge and become the Heroes that the people of Ravenford so sorely need?"Please check out Spirit’s book and website!:
Website: fpspirit.com
His book: The Ruins on Stone Hill (Heroes of Ravenford Book 1)
Read his "Meet a Character" blog post: http://fpspirit.com/2014/06/23/meet-my-character-blog-tour/
Read his "Meet a Character" blog post: http://fpspirit.com/2014/06/23/meet-my-character-blog-tour/
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MEET A CHARACTER
1) What is the name of your character? Is he fictional or a historic person?
Keegan is his name, and fiction is his game (though, I might add, he is quite real to me)! He is a Wovlen, a very old, diminishing race of people known for their hardiness, confidence, brutality, and skilled dragon slayers.
2) When and where is the story set?
In a world, not our own. Most of the story takes place in three different places in my "make-believe-world": 1) A city called Elinralis, capitol of the country Anuran, 2) A place in the wild called The Dragon's Plains, 3) And the adjoining forest to the plains called The Dragon's Forest.
3) What should we know about him?
Keegan was orphaned at the age of twelve. However, what is truly special about Keegan is that he was adopted right after the death of his family by Pharrgon, a golden dragon. Yes. His adopted father is a dragon. For 13 years following his family's demise, he was raised and trained by Pharrgon to survive in the wilderness and to become a formidable warrior.
4) What is the main conflict? What messes up his life?
Though Keegan's story started long, long before his time when the Wovlen kingdom fell to an evil red dragon, it really took a tailspin when Keegan's family and village was massacred. Keegan witnessed the brutal death of his father at the hands of a "scarred man". The survivors of the village were scattered, and Keegan fled into the dreaded Dragon's Forest where he met Pharrgon and thus, his destiny.
5) What is the personal goal of the character?
Since the massacre and witnessing the death of his father, Keegan has only had two goals: find his missing friends and family and avenge the death of his village. In book 1, The Dragon's Son, Keegan's first goal was met. However, his second goal is about to take a drastic turn in the 2nd book when he finds out that the person responsible for the death of his father and mother goes far beyond the "scarred man" (the man who killed his father and lead the attack on his village). Finding out the deeper truth widens his perspective and raises his goal to new heights. But Pharrgon warns him that vengeance is not his to take. Vengeance belongs to another. So, what has his goal become? What is he supposed to do? Needless to say, the 2nd book has Keegan pretty confused through most of it.
6) Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?
Yes. The 2nd title is "The Dragon's Due".
Would you like a snippet from The Dragon's Due? Of course. I thought you would. Here ya go (note: none of this has seen an editor yet, so please forgive the rough-ness of it):
A light mist rose up from the ground in a perfectly green
forest. The green grass was cool and soft under Keegan’s bare feet, and the smell
of fresh moisture in the air was cool and inviting. Silence reined throughout
the green forest, perfect silence that assured Keegan that everything was
peaceful there. None of his troubles followed him to this place. None of his
worries or fears haunted him. Perfect peace and silence wrapped their gentle
arms around him in this forest and set his mind to rest.
From the corner of his eye, Keegan saw movement in the
trees. He turned and watched as a feminine figure quietly walked through the
trees, touching each of the trunks, looking all around herself as if searching
for something. Her golden head and dark blue dress stood out against the green
of the forest, and her glowing pale skin shown brightly, but her sparkling,
emerald green eyes matched the surrounding forest exactly.
“Erewhon,” Keegan sighed as he spoke her name as he walked
toward her.
She paused and looked at him, her eyes growing wide “Keegan!
Oh, I am so glad you are here!” she opened her arms and meant to rush to him,
but suddenly stopped “But it is only a dream. You are only a dream. You aren’t
really here!” her face changed from joy to despair instantly as tears filled
her eyes.
Keegan’s face grew somber “Princess Erewhon, what is the
matter?” he asked.
“It is no use to tell a phantom in a dream.” Erewhon said
sadly, hiding her face in her hands “Oh Dayspring have mercy! I shall be lost
forever!”
Keegan stepped up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder
before reaching up with his other hand and gently pulling hers away from her
face so he could see her clearly “I am here, my lady. I am no phantom.” he grew
puzzled as he witnessed overwhelming despair written across Erewhon’s face “Why
are you afraid and so sad? This is a peaceful place. Can’t you feel the relief
it brings?”
Erewhon’s lip trembled as she looked into Keegan’s eyes “I
have felt it, and it has brought me comfort, but I know I cannot stay.” she
took Keegan’s hand tightly in hers “Keegan, I have been captured and carried
away from Elinralis. I don’t know where I am at, but shadow men are holding me
captive.”
Suddenly the forest shook and rippled, liked still water
when a stone has been dropped into it, and the trees and light began to
disappear.
Keegan grabbed Erewhon’s hands tightly as the green forest
changed to a late night scene with the two moons almost midsky, shining their
pale light across a yellow plain that Keegan knew all to well: the Dragon
Plains.
Erewhon shuddered “This is where I am being held captive!”
she gasped “But I won’t be here for long. The moons are almost high.” she looked
up at the sky.
“Who is holding you captive? What for? Where are they taking
you?” Keegan asked.
Erewhon began sobbing and trembling “I don’t know! Men or
shadows, they call themselves wraiths, are taking me to a person they call the
crystal queen. Keegan, I am so scared!”
Suddenly, a transparent shadow in the shape of a man
appeared next to Keegan and Erewhon, filtering out the moon light and casting a
shadow over the two of them. Chilling whispers in an ancient language began to
echo all around. The scene of the Dragon Plains seemed to bend and then tear,
like someone cutting through a painted canvas. With an unearthly scream, a
large, black gloved hand appeared through the tear.
“I told you there would be consequences for trying to
escape!” a voice roared before the hand grabbed Erewhon by the throat and
yanked her through the hole “I meant it for dreams as well, princess!”
“Keegan!” Erewhon screamed in terror as she disappeared.
Keegan yelled in anger as Erewhon’s trembling hands were
yanked from his, then everything, the moon light, the Dragon Plains, even the
very air around him completely disappeared. Keegan began to gasp for air as he
was left in a black void filled with eerie whispers that chanted in an
unfamiliar language. He fell to his knees, holding his hands up to his neck,
trying to find a way to breathe. Just before he was about to pass out, a dragon
roar echoed in his ears and shook the ground under him.
7) When can we expect the book to be published?
My goal is to have it done by November/December 2014. However, this is ME we are talking about. My hopes, goals and plans don't always go according to my plans, so.... we shall see how this works out. *fingers crossed*
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Now, as part of the tour, I need to tag a couple of other authors!Thanks for reading and, please, check these other authors out!
Sherrilyn Polf is an Christian author of Historical Fiction and Children's Books. Currently, she has 4 books in a WWII series called "The Engineers of Flight", with a 6th one on the way. They are "a side of WWII that has not been presented before...".
Her Website: http://sherrilynpolf.weebly.com/
Her books: On Amazon in Kindle and Paperback
Elaine Littau is another author of fiction, working with romance and western mainly. She has a very large selection of books to choose from! All of her books are very powerful testimonies of God's strength which can pull us through any storm and get us through any crisis. I would not recommend them for young readers, as the contents can be somewhat traumatic. However, if you like Frank Peretti and Western fiction, then I can only assume that you will really like her books!
Her Website: http://www.elainelittau.com/
Her Books: on Amazon in Kindle and Paperback
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