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Stephen H. Provost is an author of paranormal adventures and historical non-fiction. “Memortality” is his debut novel on Pace Press, set for release Feb. 1, 2017.
An editor and columnist with more than 30 years of experience as a journalist, he has written on subjects as diverse as history, religion, politics and language and has served as an editor for fiction and non-fiction projects. His book “Fresno Growing Up,” a history of Fresno, California, during the postwar years, is available on Craven Street Books. His next non-fiction work, “Highway 99: The History of California’s Main Street,” is scheduled for release in June.
For the past two years, the editor has served as managing editor for an award-winning weekly, The Cambrian, and is also a columnist for The Tribune in San Luis Obispo.
He lives on the California coast with his wife, stepson and cats Tyrion Fluffybutt and Allie Twinkletail.
Filtering by Tag: fantasy
Nevada author Jacci Turner is an Amazon bestselling author of middle-grade and young adult fiction author has been a therapist, school counselor, campus minister, and mom. She is the author of several novels, most of which are geared toward young adults.
Read MoreSamaire Wynne has just completed her latest Paranormal Academy series, the Fae Rebel Academy trilogy, on the heels of her popular seven-book Titania Academy series (with an eighth book in the works).
Read MoreSamaire Wynne’s latest series, Titania Academy, has proven extremely popular. It’s her latest, but not her first. The author has previously written two other series: the zombie-thriller Mad World trilogy, and the Paladin Princess saga, a magical fantasy series that includes four books so far. She is also the author of Romanov, a standalone vampire adventure and romance. She sat down recently to answer a few questions about the first book in her Tatania Academy series, Faerie Misborn.
Website: samairewynne.com
Twitter handle: @samaireherself
Facebook: facebook.com/titaniabookonefaeriemisborn/
Name, age and occupation: Samaire Wynne, ageless, storyteller
Where and with whom do you live? I live on the east coast, with my cat Tyrion
If you could co-write a book with any author, living or dead, whom would you choose? I would write a book with JK Rowling.
Why do you write? To tell stories.
Where do you write? In my writing cave.
What imaginary land would you choose as your home, and why? I have heard of a land called Honnalee. That sounds like a nice place to live. Either that or Rivendell.
What animal, real or imaginary, would you choose as your constant companion? I would pick a small dragon, about the size of a school bus.
What do you collect? I collect good memories.
Title, genre and length? Titania Academy 1: Faerie Misborn
When and where does it take place? It takes place in modern day, in Ireland, in the hidden world of Faerie. Some scenes that take place in New York City.
How did you come up with the title? I made it up. Misborn is the old word for bastard (born out of wedlock).
What inspired you to write it? My imagination.
Is there a sequel in the works? It’s already out: Titania Academy 2: Faerie Elemental.
Where, how can you get it? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XMPRCJT
Describe your book in one word that most people don’t normally use. Amazeballs!
What’s your most interesting chapter title? Chapter 26: The Faerie Ring.
Who would want to ban it? Probably the same people who banned Harry Potter.
To whom did you dedicate it and why? I dedicated it to homeless children, because my main character spent her first 14 years homeless.
Name, age and occupation: Holly Ó Cuilinn, age 14, occupation: freshman faerie.
Where and with whom does he/she live? Holly starts off homeless in NYC. After she is found by Titania Academy’s Seeker, she moves into the Academy castle. Her roommate is Liesl.
Who would play your protagonist in a movie? No idea. A 14-year-old girl who is on the smallish side. Platinum hair.
Name, age and occupation: Tim Ahrens, 54, retail supervisor.
Where and with whom do you live? I live alone.
If you could co-write a book with any author, living or dead, whom would you choose? Edgar Allen Poe.
Why do you write? I enjoy crafting characters and worlds.
Where do you write? My study.
What do you collect? Anime and horror collectibles.
Your superhero alter-ego: Green Lantern.
Favorite board, card or video game: Neverwinter MMORPG for PC.
Title, genre and length? Dark Creatures: A Simple Game, Dark Fantasy, 310 pages.
When and where does it take place? Two worlds, one is the town of Millten, Wisconsin, the year 2020. The second is a world of Dark Creatures, Year unknown.
How did you come up with the title? One of the places I write about in the book is the world of dark creatures. The second part of the title is a secret.
What inspired you to write it? I used to play Dungeons and Dragons when I was a kid. That started my storytelling.
Is there a sequel in the works? Yes.
Where, how can you get it? At my web domain, www.thedarkcreatures.com. Also available via Amazon under Author Tim Ahrens or Dark Creatures: A Simple Game. Or at Barnes & Noble Book Sellers under the same names.
Describe your book in one word that most people don’t normally use. Exciting.
Who would you choose to write the musical score? The sound track to the movie The Ninth Gate. John Williams.
What’s your most interesting chapter title? Life is a Song Well Sung.
Who would want to ban it? Anyone who would call Stephen King’s or J.R.R. Tolkien’s works “demonic.”
To whom did you dedicate it and why? To Jean and Eric Turman as well as James Reich (who provided the illustrations), for believing in my writing.
Names, ages and occupations: Their are three. The first is William J. Donovan, 16, high school student. Second: Augury Pars, age unknown, Wraith. The third is Llica Travilan, age 20, bard or traveling entertainer.
Where and with whom do they live? Will lives with his parents. Augury and Llica live together on the road.
What real-life person would be your protagonist’s hero, mentor or role model? Will’s would be his father; Augury’s and Llica’s would be the Lord Protector.
What’s his or her celebrity crush? Will: Scarlett Johansson.
What’s her biggest fear/phobia? Will’s is failure. Augury’s is failure to complete her mission. Llica’s is being parted permanently from Augury.
On what TV show would he/she appear as a special guest? Will would be on The Orville. Augury and Llica would be on Criminal minds.
Weapon of choice (gun, knife, intellect, magic, manipulation, etc.) Will has no weapon of choice. Augury’s is La Mia Morte. Llica’s is a secret.
At the beginning of the book, our hero (Will) is … Unaware that his actions are about to turn his world into a living hell.
Worst habit (Will)? Believing that nothing he does will ever change the world.
Best feature (Will)? He’s a hero deep inside.
Andy Peloquin is the author of Gateway to the Past, the third installment of The Last Bucelarii series, which he describes as "dark fantasy with a look at the underside of human nature." Peloquin's latest novel, it was published March 31 and focuses on The Hunter, legendary assassin of Voramis, whose mission is to protect a boy he rescued from a demon. The author sat down and answered a series of questions via email for this installment of The Open Book.
Author's website: http://andypeloquin.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andyqpeloquin
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndyPeloquin
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/andypeloquin/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/100885994638914122147/about
Name, age and occupation: Andy Peloquin, 29, author/freelance writer.
Where and with whom do you live? I live in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico (south of the U.S. border) with my wife and four kids.
If you could co-write a book with any author, living or dead, whom would you choose? Brandon Sanderson or Scott Lynch. Being able to work with those authors (even just be in the same room with them and talking with them) would be a dream come true!
Why do you write? Because I MUST. I come from an artistic family, but have no artistic skills of my own. When I discovered writing, it was like finding a part of myself I was missing. Writing gives me a way to communicate, an outlet for my innate creativity, and a way to connect with people.
Where do you write? I love the safe, comfortable environment of my office desk, where I do most of my writing. However, some of my best chapters have been hammered out at the airport, on a bus, at a coffee shop, or sitting by the beach.
What imaginary land would you choose as your home, and why? There's something wonderful about Narnia that makes it a wonderful place to be. It's that "home away from home" I discovered as a child, and even now live to read.
Your superhero alter-ego: I wish I could be one of the more bad-ass superheroes (the Punisher, Captain America, etc.), but I think I'd be like Hawkeye — just a normal guy with a skill that makes him exceptional. The fact that he can go toe to toe with gods and super-beings is something I highly respect.
Historical period you’d like to visit: I think I would have made an AMAZING Viking (6' 6" is a pretty good height for a Norse raider).
Favorite board, card or video game: I've recently discovered Settlers of Catan and have fallen in love with it. Of course, what's life without a bit of tabletop role-playing a la D&D/Pathfinders?
“Creative, gritty, and beautifully dark...fantasy addicts will love it!”
Title, genre and length? The Last Bucelarii (Book 3): Gateway to the Past — the latest in the dark fantasy series. Length: 120,000 words.
When and where does it take place? The setting is medieval-era in an alternate world known as Einan. It starts off in a French/German-style village, but transitions to a Saharan Africa-esque setting. The Hunter ends up in a Marrakech/Cairo-style city with hints of Saudi Arabian/Turkish/Moroccan architecture and culture.
How did you come up with the title? The idea behind the title is that "memories are the gateway to the past". Especially for this character, who has had his memories erased (for reasons explained in this book) up to 40-50 years before. So by accessing his memories, he literally sees into the life/lives he once lived.
What inspired you to write it? The first book introduced the character and his drive to kill, as well as showing him at the peak of his powers (inhuman strength/speed/stamina, healing ability). The second book showed what happened when he tried to fight the urge to kill, as well as lost his powers. In this book, he has recovered his powers and come to terms with the fact that he needs to kill to remain sane. He's no longer trying to fight it. However, at the end of Book 2, he saves the life of a child, who happens to have abilities to hunt down demons. When he's near the Hunter, the voices in his head fall silent. The Hunter brings him along — out of guilt for his actions, and out of a necessity to remain sane. But the life of an assassin is a dangerous one, and no place for an innocent child. A great contrast — cynical, violent assassin meets extremely naïve (the result of Williams Syndrome) child.
Is there a sequel in the works? This is Book 3 of 6. Book 4 is already written, and it introduces the "big bad" of the series. Books 5 and 6 are on their way as soon as I can sit down and write them.
Where, how can you get it? All the books are available on Amazon, as well as Barnes & Noble.
Describe your book in one word that most people don’t normally use. Deep. On the face of it, it's an action/adventure story with a bad-ass assassin as the protagonist, but once you look a bit deeper, you realize it's the story of a lonely person trying to find a sense of belonging in a world where he doesn't belong. That's something we can all relate to. And it takes a look at emotional/mental/neurological/psychological disorders — sociopathy, psychopathy, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, paranoid disorders, schizoaffective disorder, Williams' Syndrome, and many more.
What would you select as your book’s theme song? Who would you choose to write the musical score? The perfect song to describe this book is one by Five Finger Death Punch. The song says, "I'm on the wrong side of Heaven, and the righteous side of Hell." As a half-demon assassin who hunts demons, that's the perfect way to describe the character.
“The fantasy world has a compelling new antihero…the Hunter will terrify and captivate you.”
Name, age and occupation: The Hunter of Voramis. Age unknown. Occupation: assassin.
Where and with whom does he/she live? When first we meet him in Blade of the Destroyer, he lives in fancy apartments concealed in the heart of a run-down warehouse. He has brought beggars, lepers, and outcasts into the building to live with him. Initially, they were meant only a camouflage. But eventually they've become the closest thing he has to family — his only link to the world. He is an outcast like them.
Who would play your protagonist in a movie? I'd love to see Thomas Jane or Jason Momoa play this role. Both are bad-ass in their own right, and would make one heck of a half-demon assassin!
What real-life person would be your protagonist’s hero, mentor or role model? The Hunter is a bit of a loner, so he wouldn't have a mentor, role model, or hero. He's far too cynical and sees the worst in everyone.
What’s her biggest fear/phobia? Though he isn't self-aware or emotionally mature enough to realize it, it's the fear of being alone. He has lived a long life and been on his own for most of it. Being alone makes him depressed and allows his mind to wander toward dark thoughts.
What’s his/her favorite quote or motto? "May the Long Keeper take your body; your soul is forfeit." This is the ritual he was taught to remind him of his humanity.
Weapon of choice: Soul-stealing dagger named Soulhunger that feeds him power and is an incessant voice in his head that drives him to kill
At the beginning of the book, our hero is … A ruthless killer with a very limited sense of morality. He has only one thing he holds true: the innocent should be protected.
Worst habit? Killing people who could identify him. If they see his true face, they must die.
Best feature? His desire to protect those that matter to him, and his unyielding stubbornness. He won't quit, no matter how bad things are going for him.
“From the first words on the page this fantasy holds the reader spellbound even after the book is finished … his character is very well-defined even if his past is a mystery. Root for an assassin? Oh, yes, one must!”
Mandy Dawson is the author of Elemental Awakening, the first in her series, Elementals, just released in December. Its intriguing premise: An ancient being, imprisoned in statue form for thousands of years, is reawakened in the present. Mandy graciously agreed to sit down and answer some questions for The Open Book.
Author's website: www.mandydawsonauthor.com
Amazon: http://a.co/1dBiyMf
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inmandyland/
Twitter: @in_mandyland
Name, age and occupation: Mandy Dawson, 41, executive assistant/author
Where and with whom do you live? I live in Atascadero with my two children – Joseph and Elizabeth, their two hamsters, a survivalist fish, three chickens, and a stray cat who likes to be fed, but not pet.
If you could co-write a book with any author, living or dead, whom would you choose? I’d want to write a book with Julia Quinn. While my list of favorite authors, both living and dead, is almost as long as my list of favorite books, co-writing would require someone with a sense of humor and a similar writing style. Our subgenres differ, but I think we’d both approach the project with tongues firmly in cheek and a healthy dose of fun.
Why do you write? I’m not quite certain I’d know what to do if I didn’t write. I’ve always told stories in an effort to give life to the people in my head. Some of my earliest memories are of lying in the dark and whispering the tales of two foolish little girls and their accidental adventures to my sisters when my parents thought we were asleep. As I got older, I began to write them down and never stopped.
Where do you write? Because I work full time, I try to fit in writing wherever and whenever I can. I write at my desk or kitchen table after I put the kids to bed. I take my laptop with me on my lunch break and lock myself into a conference room to tap away at my keyboard for an hour. I even take my laptop or notebook with me while camping and zip myself in my tent or plant myself at the picnic table for an hour or so. I’ve found getting away from the house prevents me from being distracted by the never-ending pile of laundry, so the bulk of my drafting is done at Bru (Coffeehouse) in Atascadero, sitting at a little table in front of the window with my headphones on and a pot of Earl Grey steaming nearby.
What animal, real or imaginary, would you choose as your constant companion? If I were to have a constant animal companion, it would be a dog. One that knew how to use and flush a toilet, didn’t chew on the corner of the wooden coffee table, and was able to refill my glass of wine. A dog may seem like an ordinary animal when the options are as varied as reality and imagination allows, but while a dragon would be amazing, a nice, slightly overweight, midsized dog prone to napping between long rambling walks would be a kindred spirit.
What do you collect? I collect sea glass. My kids and I spend hours roaming the beaches looking for shards of trash turned to treasure. We have piles of it all over our house filling jars and bowls and frames. Sometimes we craft something from it, but we mostly enjoy studying it, looking for the bubbles and imperfections, the clues as to what it originally was, where it might have come from. We make up stories about the people who owned it before it was shattered and pounded against the surf to wash up at our feet.
Favorite board, card or video game: I’m a game fanatic with almost as many favorite board games as I have moods. Right now, I’m addicted to Settlers of Catan, though last year it was Sequence and before that I couldn’t get enough of Five Crowns. My sister just bought me Pandemic, and I have a feeling it might boot Catan from the top ranking.
“This is the first book in a series, and although it doesn’t leave you with a cliffhanger, it makes you want to find out what’s going to happen next. An overall win for Ms. Dawson’s debut novel.”
Genre and length? Elemental Awakening is a romance novel with a strong thread of paranormal running through it. It’s a bit over 65,000 words long.
When and where does it take place? It’s a contemporary novel with locations moving from L.A. to the Central Coast to the Andes and the Bay Area.
How did you come up with the title? My editor wasn’t thrilled with my working title, Someday I’ll Figure Out a Witty Title for This Book, and I wasn’t thrilled with the only other option I’d come up with, Let Sleeping Gods Lie. She suggested Elemental Awakening after reviewing my three-story arc, and I loved the way it fit.
What inspired you to write it? Four years ago, I was part of an online writing group. One of the picture prompts was of a stone statue half buried in the ground. It sparked an idea of what would happen if that statue was a cursed man frozen for all time and then, what would happen if someone happened to wake him up. Once I started writing, I couldn’t stop.
Is there a sequel in the works? The sequel, Elemental Escape, is drafted, and I’m starting my first round of revisions.
Where, how can you get it? You can currently purchase Elemental Awakening in paperback or ebook versions on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
What would you select as your book’s theme song? Who would you choose to write the musical score? A Thousand Years by Christina Perri. Since I spent most of my writing time plugged into Ingrid Michaelson, I’d select her to write the musical score.
Who would want to ban it? People who don’t believe in magic. I’d forgive them, though, for wanting to ban it. Not believing in magic must make life rather sad.
To whom did you dedicate it and why? I dedicated my book to my parents who taught me a love of reading. Family legend has it that my dad used to travel the rodeo circuit with two hard-backed suitcases. One was filled with clothes, the other with books. My mom was never without a book nearby. Even with four children, she still found time to read. Usually while standing up because she rarely had time to sit. I also dedicated it to my three younger sisters who have always listened to my stories. And finally, to my children, because without them I wouldn’t have dared to embark on this adventure. When my son told me that he knew he could do anything he set his mind to because I had taught him that by finishing my book, it made all the late nights and long hours of editing worth it.
“Most novels tend to be plot based or character based, but I felt that this one was a seamless merger of the two. Immediately engaged by the first page, the story continues to delight. It was one of those books that caused me to let the kids make their own dinner so I could finish.”
Name, age and occupation: Helen Browning, early 30s, midwife and secret key to unleashing an elemental battle for power. Lukos, early 3000s, Light.
Where and with whom does he/she live? She lives alone in a small cottage in a place roughly based on Cambria. He lived in an area known today as the Andes until he was turned to stone, during which time he lived deep in a cave until discovery and then on display in museums around the world.
Who would play your protagonist in a movie? Jaimie Alexander for Helen and Chris Hemsworth for Luke.
What real-life person would be your protagonist’s hero, mentor or role model? Helen would be fascinated by the work of Jennifer Worth and the idea of caring for a population in the East End of London post WWII. I have no doubt, she’d devour her memoir and likely binge watch the show on PBS while eating Cherry Garcia ice cream. Luke has a lot of catching up to do. (Being a statue for thousands of years puts a dent in one’s knowledge of world events.) As someone who is facing a battle of epic size, bringing about a civil war, he’d study the great generals in history, especially those who brought peace to their people.
What’s his or her celebrity crush? Helen has a soft spot for hunky nerds. She probably has a huge crush on David Tennant. Luke isn’t certain what celebrities are and is slightly taken aback by Helen’s over-the-top swooning when David is on screen.
What’s her biggest fear/phobia? Helen is afraid of losing the people she loves. Luke is afraid of becoming stone once again.
At the beginning of the book, our hero is … At the beginning of the book, Helen has spent her life trying to rediscover the stability she lost. She’s strong and capable, confident in her skills as a midwife and secure in her life path, but she also knows something is missing. There’s been a hole in her life nothing has been able to fill. Luke was literally turned to stone, his fate sealed. When he first awakes, the emotions and sensations threaten to overwhelm him so he clings to the one thing he knows and is certain of: his love for the woman who woke him.
Worst habit? Helen is stubborn. When presented with a situation in which she feels horribly out of her depth, she clings to what she knows with a tenacity that becomes not just dangerous, but deadly. Luke is impatient. He’s spent thousands of years frozen in stillness with nothing but time to plot and plan his revenge, yet when he’s finally able to put some of those plans in action, he discovers the world has changed drastically and the answers he seeks are not easily found.
Best feature? Helen is a quiet warrior who has always championed the most innocent. Luke has somehow retained his sense of humor, no matter how dark his life became.
“This imaginative romance takes the reader out of her own element into a completely different world that exists layered on top of our own. ”
