BLAST, BLITZ, PROMOS, REVEALS, & TOURS . . . : SPOTLIGHT w/INTERVIEW - SCIENCE FICTION ANTHOLOGY

A great new blog tour featuring a fantastic rising talent in speculative fiction awaits you, celebrating John F. Allen’s The Best Is Yet to Come, an exciting new collection featuring an array of stories in urban fantasy, fantasy, science fiction, horror and more!

Taking place January 13-20, 2020, the new blog tour features reviews, interviews, guest posts, videos, top tens, and more!

THE BEST IS YET TO COME

by John F. Allen

October 17^th 2019

Seventh Star Press

Myths & Legends, Anthology, Science Fiction

BLURB

Featuring ten stories collected for the first time ever, The Best Is Yet to Come, presents nine years of creativity spun from the mind of John F. Allen. Action and adventure are ever present in these stories, but be prepared for some drama, horror, fantasy and science fiction as well.

This volume includes a holiday story, “An Ivory Christmas,” featuring Ivory Blaque, Allen’s bold heroine from his acclaimed urban fantasy series The God Killers, and the center of his literary universe, The Ivoryverse.

Also included are:

“Forest of Shadows” the debut of a fabled, ancient warrior named, Jaziri, Prince of Kimbogo Province.

You may want to think twice before venturing out into the dark woods of rural Indiana in “The Legend of Matchemonedo.”

A young, set assistant of a 50’s science fiction serial gets to embark on the journey of a lifetime in “The Adventures of Star Blazer.”

A young woman in late 1970’s Indianapolis, learns to be careful what you wish for in “HoodRatz.”

When a woman struggles to care for her ailing father, she discovers the truth behind her troubled past in “The Sweetest Autumn.”

Long ago, a noble samurai finds forbidden love with a beautiful, ebony skinned princess in “The African Princess.”

A mysterious, military operative is sent on a covert mission in Egypt, when he encounters an alien monster bent on revenge in “Lazarus.”

Forty years ago, a young boy discovers that family means everything in “The Chocolate Malt.”

The Best is Yet to Come also features the special bonus short story, “Witch Way is Up.”

Explore the words of John F. Allen today!

Links for The Best Is Yet to Come

Kindle Version: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Yet-Come-John-Allen-ebook/dp/B07YBTFM9P/

Amazon Print Version: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Yet-Come-John-Allen/dp/1948042851/

Barnes and Noble Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-best-is-yet-to-come-john-allen/1133901519?ean=9781948042857

Author Info
John F. Allen is an American writer born in Indianapolis, IN. He is a founding member of the Speculative Fiction Guild and a member the Indiana Writers Center. He began writing stories as early as the second grade and has pursued various forms of writing throughout his career. John studied Liberal Arts at IUPUI with a focus in Creative Writing and Literature, received an honorable discharge from the United States Air Force and is a current member of the American Legion. John’s debut novel, The God Killers was published in 2013 by Seventh Star Press, and he has had several novellas, short stories and articles published since. He is also an avid reader, accomplished visual artist and Jazz music aficianado.

John currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana.

How would you describe you style of writing to someone that has never read your work?

My writing style is versatile, as it adapts to the story I’m telling based on genre, but it’s mostly character and setting (scene) driven.

Do you feel that writing is an ingrained process or just something that flows naturally for you?

I’m a pantser. This means that I don’t outline, I simply start composing from the keyboard. Usually an idea of a character, setting or both comes to me and I bat that around in my head for a while. Sometimes, it forms a scene or two and once that happens, I sit down at my laptop and begin to compose.

What mindset or routine do you feel the need to set when preparing to write (in general whether you are working on a project or just free writing)?

I’m always observing the world around me. I take note of what I see, hear, feel and the mannerisms of those I interact with. I compose to music and depending on the characters, setting or action in the scene, that determines the genre of music and/or artist I listen to. Mostly I listen to jazz, due to its versatility, wide range of styles and tempos, and propensity for improvisation.

Do you take your character prep to heart? Do you nurture the growth of each character all the way through to the page? Do you people watch to help with development? Or do you build upon your character during story creation?

Actually, all of the above. I nurture the character’s development by their interactions with other characters and the obstacles I put in the way of their goals, which in turn strengthens them. As I write the story, I build upon the characters by forcing them to face and conquer their fears, self-reflect and own their flaws, all in order to further prepare them for the even greater challenges ahead.

Do you have a character that you have been working on for a long time that still isn't quite ready, but fills you with excitement to work on the story?

No.

Have you found yourself bonding with any particular character(s)? If so which one(s)?

Yes, I’d say there are three characters I feel a strong kindred connection with: Ivory Blaque, Prince Jaziri and Knight Ranger aka Captain Cornelius “Neal” Dubois.

Do you have a character that you have been working on that you can't wait to put to paper?

Can you share your next creative project(s)? If yes, can you give a few details?

The long-awaited sequel to The God Killers is slated for release this year, as well as the third novella in the Codename: Knight Ranger series and a book of poetry. I’m also working on the first novel in a space opera series and a collection of novellas featuring Prince Jaziri, coming soon.

What are some of your writing/publishing goals for this year?

My writing goals for 2020 are to be more productive with my fiction work, such as introducing new and exciting characters in novella and short stories. But I also want to increase productivity with my non-fiction work such as my poetry and my commercial work, such as blog posts, newsletters and copy writing assignments.

Have you ever felt that there was something inside of you that you couldn't control? If so what? If no what spurs you to reach for the unexperienced?

No, but passion for creativity and self-expression drives me.

If you could have dinner/dinner party with 7 fictional character, who would they be?

Robert B. Parker’s Hawk
Walter Mosley’s Easy Rawlins
Star Wars Ahsoka Tano
Marvel’s Black Panther
Star Trek’s Captain Benjamin Sisko
DC’s Wonder Woman
Charles Saunders Imaro

If you could spend one-week with 5 fictional characters, who would they be and where would you spend that time?

I would spend a week in Wakanda with Black Panther, Captain Benjamin Sisko, Hawk, Misty Knight & Lando Calrissian.

Where would you spend one full year, if you could go anywhere, money is not a concern? What would you do with this time?

I would stay in villa in the French Riviera along the Mediterranean coastline and visit Paris one week per month. While there, I would be sight-seeing, painting and writing.

Author Links:

Website: https://johnfallenauthor.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnfallenauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jfa_author