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What Fueled My Imagination
Into the Well is book two in your Warlock Chronicles series. What were some new ideas you wanted to introduce in this book that was different from book one?
In LADY SILVER, we saw the beginnings of romance between Bryanna and Bastion. Neither of them was at a point where they were ready to acknowledge their emotions but they were getting there. INTO THE WELL brings their relationship into full bloom. Each of them is forced to admit that they need each other — that they need other people in their lives. And they have to make the conscious choice of what direction they want their lives to take, knowing the consequences they’ll have to face for the choices they make. That’s something too many of us have forgotten these days, I think (myself included.) Bryanna has enormous power, for example. Yet she is just like everyone else: she makes her choices and lives with the consequences of her actions. That’s sort of an on-going undercurrent through the entire series.
Your characters continue to develop in this novel in new and interesting ways. What were some obstacles you felt were important to Bryanna’s character development in this book?
Bryanna is incredibly powerful, and I kept thinking of the saying, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” In more than one of my characters, we see that in full display. Because of the enormity of the magic Bryanna wields, I felt she had to be in a position to make the conscious choice to succumb to absolute power and all it entails, or walk away from it if that was the right, moral thing to do. Would she let the magic control her, or would she control the magic? She had to be willing to give up everything in order to become everything she could be. All in or all out — there’s no middle ground for her. I think more of us than are willing to admit it actually face a point like that in our own lives.
What were some sources that informed this novels development?
I don’t know that I can pinpoint one or two precise sources. It’s a culmination of my almost-65-years of life experiences and the influence of the books I read in my youth. Authors like Frank Herbert, Margaret Weiss and Tracey Hickman, Anne McCaffery, Jennifer Roberson, Larry Niven, Stephen King, Anne Rice, Terry Brooks, Kathleen Woodiwiss, to name a few. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy today’s sci-fi and fantasy authors. But the “old school” authors were my bread and butter in my formative years. Throw in the original “Star Trek” series, “Lost in Space” series, “Twilight Zone” and the old serialized “Buck Rogers” and you get an idea of what fueled my imagination back in the day.
What can readers expect in book three of your Warlock Chronicles series?
There’s an empty throne that has to be filled. A civil war needs to be rectified. Chaos has a strong foothold in the galaxy and that always brings out the worst of man’s inhumanity to man. And there are past sins that must be accounted for. Bastion, Bryanna, and all of the characters face some difficult choices. New characters are introduced, others may come face-to-face with the end of their story arc. I’m in the same boat as my readers: I won’t know how it ends until I get to the final page!
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A forgotten planet. Dark secrets buried for millennia in dark magic.
Not for much longer…
INTO the WELL continues the treacherous journey of Bryanna D’Isaac, the warlock known as Lady Silver, and Admiral Devon Bastion deep into the Well in search of the lost homeworld of their ancestors. Convoluted space-time, dimensional rifts, and festering conflict brought the Cataclysm that took humans and warlocks to the brink of extinction millennia ago.
History is about to repeat itself.
INTO the WELL: Warlock Chronicles, Book II, is the sequel to LADY SILVER, the first book of the Warlock Chronicles series.
INTO the WELL
![INTO the WELL: Warlock Chronicles, Book II by [Bobbie R. Byrd]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51xaCXgJiGL.jpg)
Bryanna is exceptional in many ways. There is no one whose powers can rival those she holds. When she is asked to force the Maelstrom into the Well, her hesitation is only fleeting. She knows what must be done. With her trusted confidant and life guide, T’Laan by her side, Bryanna does as she is asked. The Maelstrom’s presence in the Well marks presents a whole new dilemma for Bryanna. She is now the unknowing target of much interest and is about to be blamed for a death for which she is not responsible. This is one time when her abilities may cost her the ultimate price.
Into the Well: Warlock Chronicles, Book II, by Bobbie R. Byrd, picks up where Byrd’s first installment left off. Main character, Bryanna D’Isaac continues to be a force with which to be reckoned and commands readers’ attention from the first page. Although this book is the second in a series it still works fairly well as a stand alone novel, but reading the first book is quite helpful as the characters’ backstories are complicated ones. Readers who enjoyed Byrd’s first book will appreciate the character development in book two.
Byrd is a master of suspense and action. Book two in the Warlock series is certainly no exception. Cover to cover, main character, Bryanna, faces one incredibly challenging situation after another. Her exceptionalities are quite amazing and help keep the book’s pace brisk and engaging. She is one of the most unique characters I have read in a long time. The mixture of the ancients and futuristic elements works well and creates fascinating visuals for Byrd’s readers.
As strong of a main character as Bryanna is, I feel T’Laan and Glyndra make the story what it is. Their personalities are unique, and the dynamic they each have with Bryanna is both charming and provides readers with the perfect amount of humor. I found myself looking forward to their scenes as much or more than I did the action sequences.
Readers looking for a new science fiction series will find themselves taken with Bryanna D’Isaac and Devon Bastion and their adventures. Having read book one in Byrd’s series, it was most definitely interesting to see the ever-evolving dynamic between Bryanna and Devon continue into book two. I highly recommend Into the Well: Warlock Chronicles, Book II to any science fiction fan looking to break into an exciting new series.
Pages: 478 | ASIN: B09FKQ49VC
While The Galaxy Falls Apart
Black Matilda follows the crew as they race across the stars looking for Luli as war and dark rumors brew. What inspired the setup to this thrilling novel?
At the end of Twistin’ Matilda, Jacquie and the crew of the Matilda were left in dire straits. The past raised its ugly head and tore the crew apart. Furthermore, Luli Qing was gone, and no one knew why or where. The only thing holding this fragile group together was their desire to find Luli and rescue her.
But would Jacquie want them all back on the ship if Luli was rescued? How far was the crew willing to go to find a lead, any lead on Luli’s whereabouts? With all that has happened since they broke Anton off a prison ship, can they learn to trust each other while the galaxy falls apart? Can they come together as a family? That was the story I wanted to tell.
In what ways have your characters development surprised you over the course of the series?
One of the aspects I really enjoyed was the dynamic between the characters as they paired up in search of Luli. Barney and Anton working so well together even after Anton had been gone for years. The ease with which Jacquie and Galena flowed, interrupted with bouts of dread when Galena was… not herself.
The sheer strength of Luli’s will astonished me. Luli comes across as a fun, lighthearted person. But, throughout the journey of her long life, she’d never been tested as she was in this story. No matter how dark the moments were, she refused to give up. This made me love her all the more.
But my favorite part was getting to see a different side of Derain. How he was more relaxed and less on edge while talking with an old childhood friend. Also getting to see him in his element where he can control all the pieces like a chess match. But the biggest shock to me was Derain deciding to rescue Luli instead of vengeance for those he’d left behind.
On top of all that is Mr. Leon! I don’t really know what he’s planning. He’s been an enigma from the very beginning and probably will remain so all the way to the end.
I enjoy the world that your story has created. What were some new ideas you wanted to add to your world in this book?
The universe of Consortium-controlled space is huge. So far, I’ve only been able to show a smattering of planets and systems. I wanted readers to understand how vast it is. How different groups of people live, survive, and under what conditions. Be it on a well-traveled space station, a run-down mining colony, or a derelict ship, the Consortium is failing its citizens by simply not caring. That is the breeding ground for change with or without the blessing of those in charge.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The latest book in the series, Secret Matilda was just released on September 14th, 2021!
In the meantime, I am busily writing the fifth and final book in the series. It’s set to be released in late 2022 and it’s a doozy of a ride! I’m also working on a compilation of short stories that take place in The Matilda Universe. I still have so much story left to tell!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Bounty Hunter. Ex-Freedom Fighter. Fugitive. Smuggler. Butcher.
Far off into the future in a distant part of the galaxy, the Consortium controls the human colonies held together by the jump gates. Where the Consortium doesn’t hold sway, crime flourishes. Through the use of a hellish engine that goes where no one should, the crew of the Matilda slips its way between the two. But everything has fallen apart since they arrived on the planet Mithuna.
Luli Qing’s been abducted and the only clue left behind is a corpse. Tales of deep spacers disappearing pepper the feeds. Old secrets have cut to the quick and torn the crew asunder. Caution is thrown to the wind as they scatter across the stars chasing rumors. All the while, the tides whisper of war against the Consortium.
Is Luli still alive? What do the entities from beyond want with them? Will Galena survive the foreign substances within? Can Jacquotte Delahaye bite the bullet and bring them all home?
Clip your ‘breather on and suck in a few breaths for the third book of the series, Black Matilda.
Black Matilda
![Black Matilda (Matilda Series Book 3) by [Jon Gray Lang]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41C9pZI5hNL.jpg)
Black Matilda is the third book of the enthralling science fiction Matilda Series by Jon Gray Lang. The crew of the Matilda is back, and this time each of the members of the crew have no choice but to split up after the kidnapping of Luli Qing. Following new hints, Captain Jacquotte Delahaye, Galena, Anton, Derain and Barney travel all throughout Consortium controlled space in pursuit of those that took their friend, trying to save her from the unknown danger that she’s in. This sends each of them on a riveting adventure that will keep the readers’ attention through every new chapter.
Many deep spacers have been disappearing, now Luli is missing too, and no one is sure what’s really going on or who’s behind it all. This series of events end up showcasing the incredible loyalty that each member of the Matilda crew have for one another, and how deep their friendship truly is. Each new chapter presents a new part of the mystery, a new riddle, a new hint, which keeps the suspense throughout the book high and makes for an incredibly gripping science fiction story. The undeniable connection between the members of the crew only makes things better, as there’s a real fear about what could happen to them.
The writing style is descriptive and engaging the narration has a quick pace. The author writing is fluid, allowing for a smooth reading experience which is a prefect match for a space adventure story that is constantly moving in a sci-fi world that is rich and imaginative. The constant travels through space, fights between crews and the resolution of enigmas are a never-ending reward for the reader, whose entertainment is prioritized all throughout the book. Incapable of putting it down, I devoured chapter after chapter, eager to find out what would be the destiny of Luli and the rest of the crew.
The characters, as expected, are well developed and their unique personalities shined through in this book, and their perseverance in rescuing their friend and helping each other during this mission made them even more enjoyable to read about. The way the book ended has left me excited for the next one in the series, I can’t wait to find out what will be the next quest for the characters that I have learned to love.
Black Matilda is yet another exciting space romp full of twists and turns that will not disappoint, the ideal match for those who have a true passion for science fiction.
Pages: 315 | ASIN: B08R2VQMPH
A Massive Alien Invasion
Falcon’s Ghost finds Earth once again under alien attack, but this time they’re being attacked by their own planet. What were some new ideas you wanted to explore in this book that was different from book one?
My main objective in this book was to up the stakes for Joe Falcon. He has already saved Earth and Mars from a massive alien invasion, so this time I needed to come up with another threat, but something no writer had ever done before. I’m pretty sure nobody has come up with the kind of alien invasion I have used in this story. I also wanted to continue Joe’s personal story, but decades in the future, so I needed to come up with a way to do/explain that. The idea of cloning has always fascinated me, and it was easy to use this concept in this story. I also wanted to move the story on with some new characters, but also keep some of the old. So Joe and Io remain, Terry returns, but a different personality, and Joe’s newest daughter, Raisa, is introduced.
Joe Falcon continues to be an interesting character. What were some challenges that were important to building his character in this story?
Continuing Joe’s personal development in this book was difficult, and I needed to take a different tack. In the first book it was about him coming to terms with himself, growing old etc. In this book he has to come to terms with something different, the way he feels personally about those he believed to be the aliens, and whom he blames for much of the sorrow he had experienced since the end of book one and the start of this book. He also learns everything he thought was true is false, and the new reality is something he finds hard to accept. Also hard for him to accept is the revelation about his new ‘brother’, Leo, and his true identity.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
I’m not sure I would say ‘the most fun’, considering the gravitas of the situation, but the chapters directly related to the ‘problems’ experienced on Earth and Mars were certainly the most satisfying to complete. As for fun, there is a short scene in which a ‘folk’ tale about the tiny moon Dysnomia (the moon of Eris, a planetoid in the Kuiper Belt), is related to Joe by his daughter. I had a lot of fun writing that. And by the way, it’s a true story.
What can readers expect in book three of the The Falcon Books series?
Book three will be set in the future again, so again Joe will be in a world more advanced than the last. Once again, humanity will be inder threat, and again, the threat will be bigger and more devastating. Again it will be up to Joe, and his team of Io, Terry, Raisa, and his new brother Leo, to spearhead humanity’s efforts to survive. This book is still under development, so no spoilers at this stage.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Six decades after the departure of the gigantic, alien star-ship dubbed the ‘Minaret’, Joe Falcon thinks it is finally over, and he can settle down to a better, quieter life.
He is wrong.
At the outermost edge of the Solar System lurks an alien intelligence the like of which humanity has never before encountered, with an agenda of its own.
As the leading authority of the Minaret, it falls to Joe to find a solution and travel billions of kilometers to confront Mankind’s greatest ever threat. But how do you deal with a mind so alien, so advanced, and so filled with hatred, that nothing will sway it from its destructive course.
Joe must find a way. If humanity is to survive, he has no choice.
If you enjoyed the multi-award-winning Falcon’s Call, you will love this long awaited sequel. Grab a copy of Falcon’s Ghost now, and join Joe Falcon on this amazing voyage to the farthest reaches of our Solar System.
With A Little Mystery
War of the Cha’cict follows a corporal who is infected with an alien virus and must race against the clock, and the enemy, to complete an important mission and be cryogenically frozen. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I am a fan of space opera/adventure stories. To me, the rich environments provide a great way to speculate on human reactions when confronted with issues beyond the normal. I have always been fascinated by aliens and future technologies and used these to challenge my main character. The War of the Cha’cict was the vehicle for my attempt to to take a “regular” human being and confront him with a multitude of issues happening close together. Poor Jared was confronted with life-affecting, often complex situations which tested his emotions, morality and decision-making. An undeclared war with an alien race seemed a good launching point to explore topics of space warfare, Artificial Intelligence, alien cultures, with a little mystery, and some romance thrown in.
Jared is an interesting and well developed character. What were some driving ideals behind his character’s development?
Personal growth – What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. A willingness to make decisions for the greater good over personal gain. In addition, Self examination and the ability to change opinions when presented with new facts.
This was an action packed story. What scene did you have the most fun writing?
Jared’s escape from from the doomed scout-ship and his awakening on the asteroid.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m currently working on the second book of this two-book series. I hope to have it completed by the end of November of this year.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Unfortunately, an enemy war vessel was chasing his barely space-worthy ship, and his time was running out. As if things couldn’t get any worse, a chance encounter with a colossal asteroid’s energy field looks to have severely damaged his ship. He wondered which would get him first, the Cha’cict warship or the unusual energy field. In either case, at least he wouldn’t endure the prolonged, painful symptoms as he succumbed to the alien virus. However, unknown to him, this was not an end but instead an unexpected beginning.
The Challenges That He Faces
Vanir, Guardian follows a young man who’s heritage is revealed and danger surrounds him as he stands on the precipice of intergalactic war. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I really wanted to explore Nordic mythology as real and that was the original idea for Vanir, Guardian. What if all the stories and legends were based on real events, but occurring via a visit from extra-terrestrial beings, rather than supernatural stories. That gave me a broad brush to explore Nordic tales but fit them into a science fiction narrative. The children in the tale are based on my children, the characteristics and the interaction between them is modelled on their reactions, my musings on how they would read tif faced with the challenges of Zeke, Martha and Elijah (and in the sequel, Tabitha). And finally Australia is the start of the story, because I’m Australian and the contrast between Australia and Svalbard is fascinating.
Ezekiel is an intriguing and well developed character. What were some ideas that informed his character development?
Zeke is naturally shy, and he has to learn to confront his fears to grow. I really wanted to explore his character arc as he confronts his real heritage, and all of the challenges that he faces. I really wanted to show a main male character who is not naturally tough or adventurous, and has to work really hard to overcome his anxiety and fear.
Vanir, Guardian is a genre-crossing novel with elements of a science fiction, fantasy, and Norse mythology. Did you start writing with this in mind, or did this happen organically as you were writing?
That’s the model I had in mind when i started, but it grew organically as the story developed.
This is book one of the Stormerki prophecy. What can readers expect in book two?
Look forward to the development of the main characters as the story arc continues. And of course, a thrilling story, suspense, battles, epic action!
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Falcon’s Ghost
![Falcon's Ghost (The Falcon Books Book 2) by [Mike Waller]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51dPT88xhsL._SY346_.jpg)
Falcon’s Ghost is the highly anticipated sequel to Mike Waller’s multi award-winning triumph Falcon’s Call. The novel is set in a brilliant distant future and follows the story of legendary galactic explorer, Joe Falcon, who is thrown back into chaos when a major alien starship, the “Minaret”, suddenly goes missing. Falcon is forced to face a myriad of old and new challenges to locate the Minaret and finds himself combatting a threat greater than humanity itself can handle.
As far as action goes, Waller’s novel is packed to the brim. The pace of the narrative is rapid enough to keep the reader engaged, while not being too overwhelming. Waller’s writing delivers a story that is intelligent and charming; laced with all kinds of incredibly interesting space-related details. Those who enjoy the science fiction genre, as well as those who just enjoy action-packed narratives, will find this book intriguing and fascinating from cover to cover. Personally, I was drawn into the turbulent yet great legacy tied to Falcon from the book’s second paragraph.
The point of Waller’s writing that I enjoy most is how he establishes settings and characters with so much detail. His location descriptions were so vivid and engaging that I found myself being immersed in the story with ease. Despite the story being completely fictitious, there is a quality to Waller’s narrative that is so enticing and seems completely based in reality.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of Falcon’s Ghost. There are countless elements of the story that I liked immensely; the characters, the narrative development, the settings, the descriptive details, etc. As I mentioned, Waller truly had me captivated from start to finish. I would recommend this book to anyone who desires to read an intelligent space adventure story that has a thrilling storyline.
Pages: 283 | ASIN: B09B5T2KVQ
LITERARY TITAN 