Blog Archives
Taiwan Butterfly
Taiwan Butterfly follows a British missionary who comes into possession of a powerful Tibetan grimoire called ‘The Book of the Butterfly’. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Taiwan Butterfly is the second installment of a series I am writing called The Book of The Butterfly. The prequel will be released later, which details the adventures of the main character Jonathan Woods and his travels around Asia as he searches for occult material. Something Jonathan has been obsessed about since a teenager. The beginning of Taiwan Butterfly picks up from the ending of the first novel ‘Book of the Butterfly.’ I released the second book first, ‘Taiwan Butterfly’ because it deals with death and resurrection. I am an English teacher and recently had a young twelve-year-old private English student of mine pass away from a childhood stroke. She had been my student since she was five years old. So I released Taiwan Butterfly first as a tribute to her and with a wish that it could be true.
Jonathan Woods is an interesting character that was fun to follow. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Jonathan Woods is a composite character formed from Indiana Jones, Merlin, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Three of my favorite fictional characters. All I had to do then was imagine what such a character would be like and do.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The death of someone we love and how it affects our belief in life was what I wanted to explore. I wanted to say that life is precious, and we should cherish it. Too many books and entertainment glorify death and the killing of people for fun or without hesitation. I find it very sad that people disrespect life so much. We are only here once on this earth. We will never be here again. Respect life and love it while you can. That’s what Taiwan Butterfly is about.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m multi-tasking on that one! I am writing four books at the same time. First to be released will be a gothic-horror story called ‘Formosan Vampire’ in mid-July 2023. The second will be a political thriller called ‘The Illuminati’ regarding a secret world order that has been controlling everything happening in the world, both good and bad. The third will be the prequel to ‘Taiwan Butterfly’. And the fourth is a sci-fi epic called ‘Conquest of our Forefathers’ about an ancient alien race that created an experimental lifeform and placed it on planet Earth to see what would happen. The human race is that experiment! Then, after a break, I will write the prequel to ‘Legend Blade’, my first novel that was published in 2021.
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The Last War
The Last War by Ian E S Adler is an epic fantasy adventure and the first installment in a series, with ambition and action consistent throughout the book. It’s a legendary quest with lots of dragons, prophecies, magic, and mythology, all of which play an essential role in a war with the potential for catastrophic consequences.
The story is set in the Archipelago of Cynnahu, where humans defeated the Dragonkin in an ancient battle. They are now in danger from the snake-folk of Nag Isle and must devise a survival plan. A band of five unexpected companions, two children, and three mages are on a journey to solve a riddle. Their ultimate aim is to summon the awesome power of the Dragonkin, which has perished in history.
Adler created a rich and imaginative world populated with interesting and well-developed characters encompassing the depth of their history and mythology. Fans of the fantasy genre will be enthralled by the level of detail and visual delights that bring this story to life, pulling the reader right into the action. It’s a satisfying read that focuses not only on war and action but the wisdom and strategy the young characters, Emrys and Sakura, must face when solving puzzles and challenges.
The author invests much of the narration with dialogue, creating a colorful plot and development throughout the book. This technique gives the characters more dimension so that we understand their motives, while the storyline never falters and will keep you turning one page after the next. While this action-packed, strategic tale follows what many readers may find to be a familiar fantasy storyline, it’s a rich, vibrant tale with unique characters and a fantastic world will keep you looking forward to the next installment.
Pages: 281 | ASIN: B0BCDRQN7C
Life is Inevitable
Life Is Inevitable by Daniel Santos is a story that begins at the end. Life is difficult for some people, and for Olivia and Brennan, two young people no longer able to face the challenges in their lives, decide to end them. It is only once they cross over to the other side, and wind up in purgatory, that things get interesting. As Olivia and Brennan are set to take separate trains out of purgatory to their next destination, there is a mix-up, and they wake up in a new place, with new challenges, in each other’s bodies.
Now facing what they must endure in their next existence and desperate to reunite and switch back into their bodies, they quickly learn that this plan will not go as smoothly as expected. The author tackles some relevant and difficult themes throughout the book, including suicide and the despair felt by young adults. He handles the challenging subject matter well and in a way that gives the reader a sense of hope that life will give you another chance, even following a big mistake or life-shattering experience.
This book is a thought-provoking and important read. The author does a good job of getting the message across so that the reader can imagine themselves in each character’s situation, how they would handle life’s unexpected challenges, and how to move on from the worst experiences. While the sensitive theme of this story may not be for everyone, it is a cleverly written story that provides an interesting perspective on a difficult topic.
There is a lot of imagination and creativity throughout the story, which is a brilliant way of handling such a powerful message. It’s also an interesting way to glimpse at more than one perspective on the matter, and how each character handles their situation. While not a light read, it is a great story that is worth sharing.
Pages: 234 | ASIN: B0B97GXP5M
Overcome Their Dark Sides
Dueling with Snakes is the last installment in The Phoenix Trilogy. Were you able to accomplish everything you wanted with this series?
Yes. My whole point/goal for this story was to show, through Leila, how anyone can discover their true identity and could overcome their dark sides—their demons—while dealing with grief.
Was there anything that surprised you about Leila’s character development over the series?
Yes. How self-centered, controlling, and dominating her dark side—the Phoenix—could become. Also, how she stood up against it with a simple ‘no’.
Where do you see the main characters in the story a year after the ending scene in the book?
A year after? Leila and Dragunov at least having 1 kid: a girl, and living in peace, carefree and happy in Russia.
Do you have more stories planned within this world or are you working on something new?
I have 2 companion short stories—already published—that go after the first two books. The last companion short story, that goes with Dueling with Snakes, is coming in October.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Leila Wells couldn’t fight against the Phoenix any longer: Bryan Foster had to die. No more would perish by his hands. She returns to the Rulers of the Realms Fighting Tag Tournament with Dragunov by her side to kill him. The competition doesn’t matter, they just want his blood.
Panordom tests them—and their dark sides—physically, mentally, and emotionally, with Foster present on the sidelines and when the former fling strains Leila and Dragunov’s love. Discovering Xander’s intention by using her to unleash an unworldly evil shifts their focus on solely getting vengeance. For everything to end, Leila confronts her most difficult decision ever.
Winner of Literary Titan’s Gold Award
We Are Unleashed Into The World
Juliet was Wrong follows a high school graduate who is searching for herself before heading off to college; what she discovers could change the course of her well-planned life. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
The inspiration for this story is, quite frankly, many people’s experiences. When we graduate high school, we feel as though: this is it. Life is ready to begin. But, what about the past eighteen years? Did they not count? We are just looking for ourselves as teenagers, before we are unleashed into the world… worried about what we’ll be or where we’ll end up.
I pulled some of that from my own experiences. I think of the quote from the last chapter: how did becoming an adult happen?
And how do we make it stop? Because that’s how every single eighteen year old feels going out into the world. At thirty five, I still feel that way sometimes.
Katie goes through a challenging period of self-discovery in this novel. Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?
Yes, absolutely. Although, Katie is who I wish I was in high school. So put-together and so self-aware. I was not that way at all! I imagined this girl who had her life so carefully planned… and then someone comes along and pulls her out of this bubble she’s created and forces her to experience things she has never experienced before. Someone to make her second guess everything she’s ever thought. And what better than a – quite average – eighteen year old boy? All four of those main characters are based on those I knew in high school – Josh is melded with my husband a bit.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Strong female relationships were very important to me writing this book. A teenage girl who had a normal relationship with her mother in a YA book? Say what? I feel as though the YA genre fixates on abnormal family relationships. But you can just tell Katie will grow up and her mother will be her best friend.
Katie & Sam are inseparable… there is this connection between them that sits under the surface that they will be there for each other literally no matter what. That was important to me to explore as well. Soulmates can exist amongst friendships.
And of course, the overall arching theme to always choose yourself. Always believe in yourself. You are good enough. No matter how many Joshua Parkers come into your life.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My name book is titled Same Time, Same Place and is due out April 4th, 2023! It is completely separate from Juliet was Wrong and is about a group of friends at summer camp throughout the years.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Yet in the past two months, her mother has picked her up from a hospital, she lied about where she was and one night, she didn’t even come home.
She blames him.
It is the day after high school graduation and Katie has one thing on her mind: getting the heck out of New Jersey. That is… until she meets him. Joshua Parker steps into view under the Ferris Wheel at the boardwalk and one look at him has Katie’s brain misfiring. The summer days fall into nights with Josh. Katie is soon discovering teenage experiences she’s been missing out on with her nose stuck in a book. The more time Katie spends with Josh, the more she begins to question everything she knows about love… and who she’s meant to be.
The path of Katie’s future has been perfectly paved since she was seven. But, she soon craves a new one: one with a boy she just met but cannot live without. The soon-to-be English major is standing at a crossroads, examining everything she’s learned about her beloved Shakespearean theatre. Do you ever get a second chance at true love? The events of that summer will decide.
Mystical Force: Vol. 4
Mystical Force Volume 4: Many are 1, 1 is 0, by Craig Weidhuner, is the next installment in the series following a Taman Knight from the planet Thalia. An evil sorceress, Zolida, is trying to find an ancient scroll. Unfortunately, the scroll releases an omnipotent being named 0, whom she wants to control and use against her enemies.
The story begins with Zolida hiring a mercenary to steal the scroll. Shi-ria, a Taman Knight from the previous volume, tries to prevent Zolida from obtaining the scroll. Shi-ria does not know what power the scroll has but knows Zolida will use it to try and change the future for the worse. Zolida ends up with the scroll and releases 0 from its world. 0 is an almost God-like being that can change matter, time, and space. He becomes an important character and alters the reality that humans, mages, and demons know.
The writing in this book unveils a lot at a fast pace. There are many different characters involved in the plot, which gives the book depth. However, there is still minor individual character development. Nevertheless, the pace and tone of the book are well written and easy to read.
Although this is another installment in the series, this book focuses on a different character. The main characters from volume 3 were involved, but I don’t think you need to read the previous book to understand this one. I would’ve liked to see more depth in the characters between volumes and a better continuation of the plot overall. This volume reads as a stand-alone that could potentially have a sequel.
Mystical Force Volume 4: Many are 1, 1 is 0, by Craig Weidhuner, is a continuation that focuses on the evil mage Zolida. If you like action, adventure, magic, and triumph over evil, this book is for you.
Pages: 72 | ASIN : B09VY2KVRZ
The Decision to Rebel
Voiceless: A Mermaid’s Tale follows a mermaid princess who wants to change the way her people treat women and is willing to risk everything to do so. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I was actually listening to ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’ on repeat when I come up the idea for Voiceless. While I was listening to the song, I thought about the terrible deal that the mermaid makes. In the original tale, the mermaid literally loses her tongue and every step she takes causes her extreme pain because she instantly ‘fell in love’ with a human prince. Even in the Disney version, the mermaid accepts a terrible deal in return for legs and she doesn’t think about the consequences or why the Sea Witch wants her to take the deal. I wanted to create a character that was more than a damsel in distress, more than a mermaid, that instantly fell in love with a prince, without even knowing him. I wanted Moriah to be in control of her own life, to make her own choices, good, bad or questionable, to get what she wants.
Princess Moriah discovers her voice when she realizes that not all women are treated as her people are. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
One of the ideals behind the development of Moriah’s character is that people are a product of their environment as well as the people surrounding them. While Moriah does have an inkling that something isn’t quite right in Zoara-Bela, she can’t really articulate what the issue is or why she feels that way in the beginning, because that world and its rules are all she knows. If someone is told all their life that their word, their life, their decision is of less value than someone else’s, then it is very hard to not get stuck in that mentality. I wanted to explore through Moriah development as a character what might happen to a person if they are exposed to a completely different environment, to people with completely different values and beliefs.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
It was important to explore the idea of standing up for what you believe in, to fight for what is right, even if everyone around tells you can’t or shouldn’t, even if the world tells you to be silent. I really wanted to explore how this act of standing up for your rights, fighting against a government that is harming its people, has consequences. The decision to rebel against the king, to push for change, is a serious decision to make for Moriah. Participating in any form of rebellion against a government, especially a fascist government, can be deadly even to those that play no part in the rebellion themselves. I wanted to show that despite the danger; it is important that people don’t stay silent on the injustices that they face because change only happens if people talk about it or protest the treatment. If people are silent, or if no one brings attention to it, then no will know about it.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am currently working on two illustrated picture books for 3 to 5-year-olds. One of the picture books is a Hide and Seek Alphabet book with Australian Animals. I am intending to release this book on the 21st of October. It should be available for pre-order on various platforms at the end of September. The second picture book will be coming out in early 2023. I am also currently working on a stand-alone sequel to Voiceless, following the journey of a different protagonist. This is currently in the first draft stage; however, I would like to release this in late 2023.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
“Well-rounded coming of age story”—Outstanding Creator Award Nomination Review
“Intriguing”—Reader’s Favorite
“Bold”—Reader’s Favorite
Love.
Choice.
Freedom.
All things a mermaid shouldn’t feel or want. A mermaid is expected to be demure, to respect their betters and do what they are told. But most of all, mermaids should be seen and not heard.
Princess Moriah, a maiden of the sea, living under the cruel reign of her grandfather, King Abaddon, is expected to be the same. Beautiful, cold and voiceless, like a marble statue in her own home.
Only her father thought differently. Only Moriah’s father had ever asked her about her interests. He was the only one who ever gave her a choice until her visit to the human world. Like all mermaids, Moriah is required to undergo her rite of passage on her 16th birthday to visit the human world. It’s only when she meets the kind, gentle Michael that she questions the cruelty and coldness of her reality.
Longing for the freedom that she and her people have never known, she must risk everything to bring about the revolution she desires. If Moriah is caught, nothing will protect her from King Abaddon’s wrath, not even her father, who always obeyed her grandfather’s every order.
For her people. For her family. She will risk everything, do anything, to achieve her goals.
Freedom, like magic, always comes at a price, and she is willing to pay.
LITERARY TITAN 