SPOTLIGHT w/TOP 10 - SCIENCE FICTION - THE MIN EUROZAN (Elorcuian Chronicles, #1) by Cathy Jackson

Welcome to a blog tour celebrating Min Eurozan, the new novel from Cathy Jackson that begins The Elorcuian Chronicles, an enthralling new romance series with science fiction elements!  

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I am no longer on Earth, nor any other place I know.

I have scant memory of how or why I came to be here.

Time continues to ebb and flow with my memories and the strange, seductive men who inhabit them.

The only constant is Love.

One owns my Body, he equally possesses and protects me.

One holds my Heart, wanting me as his friend and lover.

One challenges my Mind, he’s captured me with his patient intellect.

One completes my Soul, our love is the deepest and most pure.

One heats my Blood, bringing with him fire and need.

I love them all, and I love them as One.

Links for Min Eurozan:

eBook Links

Kindle Version: https://www.amazon.com/Min-Eurozan-Elorcuian-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B08VWPKNYX/

Nook Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/min-eurozan-cathy-jackson/1138802489?ean=2940162218807

Print Links for Min Eurozan :

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Min-Eurozan-Cathy-Jackson/dp/1736278193/

Barnes and Noble Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/min-eurozan-cathy-jackson/1138802489?ean=9781736278192

About the author: Cathy Jackson is a Midwestern Christian mother of two twenty-somethings and two teenagers. Reading is a passion of hers, but she adores writing. Some of the best people have been placed in her life to help her publish her books. They are a blessing and mean more to her than they will ever know. She loves writing scenes that uplift and encourage along with making one feel the experience. She wants readers to finish the books feeling hope, love, and happiness. To date, the books she has published are Inspirational (Christian) Romances but they have a Contemporary Romance feel.

I am honored and grateful to be here at The Book Junkie Reads, and I was asked to comment on my top ten Top Ten Romance/SciFi Reads/Series. I have an eclectic mix of Authors who have inspired me and helped me bring another dimension to my writing.  

These Authors are creative and unique in the way they present their works. They are in no particular order.  I definitely encourage you to check them out, if you haven’t yet!

10 Recommended Romance/SciFi Reads/Series

1. Stephenie Meyer – The entire Twilight Series
These novels captivated my senses and brought books to life for me. They also connected my sister-in-law and I in a new way. She is the one that got me hooked on the books. 

2. Christine Feehan – Dark Prince (Dark, #1)
Christine Feehan has a way with words like no other. She’s able to create characters and places that bring the imagination alive. I still love her books today!

3. Gena Showalter - The Darkest Night (Lords of the Underworld #1)
This lady has it all, and I love her! She’s smart, sassy, talented, and sweet. Her books are extensions of her greatness!

4. Faith Marlow - Being Mrs. Dracula (Being Mrs. Dracula #1)
Faith opened up my eyes to the horror and love of Dracula. She’s a gifted Writer and pretty cool lady. I’m blessed to know her.

5. E.L. James - The entire Fifty Shades Series
E.L. James Fifty Shades showed me a scared little boy all grown up and I took him into my heart. So did Anna and the rest of the world. I wanted him to heal from his past and move on. Once he did, I was good.

6. Janette Oke – Love Comes Softly Series
Sweet romances are always swoon-worthy. Janette Oke’s books bring me back to a simpler, happier time. They are such good reads!

7. D.L. Roan - The Heart of Falcon Ridge (The McLendon Family Saga #1)
Some like it spicy and hot! D.L. Roan brings both with a dash of humor. Her first McLendon Family saga book was amazing! I couldn’t put it down!

8. Annabelle Garcia - Coffee House Stories
Annabelle is a truly wonderful friend and fabulous Writer. Her book, Coffee House Stories is a great and it was a pleasure to read it. I still love her books!

9. Lee Savino – The entire Berserker Saga
Lee Savino is a rockin’ Author! Her Berserker Saga is brilliant! These are more books I found myself not wanting to put down.

10. Felicity Brandon - Goldie's Surrender (An Adult Fairy Tale)
Felicity Brandon! Oh, boy! She writes it all and leaves nothing to the imagination. Goldie’s Surrender is one of my favorite reads! I’d love a signed copy one day.

Author Links:

Twitter:  @AuthorCJackson

Facebook: @AuthorCJackson

Instagram: @AuthorCJackson

Tour Schedule and Activities

4/21    Writer Groupie          www.writergroupie.net        Top Ten List

4/21    The Book Junkie Reads          https://thebookjunkiereadspromos.blogspot.com Top Ten List

4/22    Sapphyria's Books     https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/ Guest Post

4/23    Elizabeth  Delana Rosa          http://elizabethdrosa.wordpress.com         Author Interview

4/24    Horror Tree    https://www.horrortree.com          Guest Post

4/25    The Seventh Star Blog           www.theseventhstarblog.com         Interview

4/26    Literary Underworld  http://www.literaryunderworld.com          Guest Post

4/27    Jazzy Book Reviews    https://www.jazzybookreviews.com/         Guest Post

4/28 Books to Curl Up With https://bookstocurlupwiith.blogspot.com/ Review

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Presented by

SPOTLIGHT w/INTERVIEW - MYTHOLOGY - CITY QUARTET by Michael Williams

We invite you enjoy a special blog tour featuring the entire City Quartet by Michael Williams, a visionary group of interrelated novels that can be read as stand-alone tales or as a group, in any order desired! It is a fascinating and atmospheric journey into the heart of mythic fiction and magical realism with an exceptional literary quality! 

CITY QUARTET

by Michael Williams

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Dominic’s Ghosts is a mythic novel set in the contemporary Midwest. Returning to the hometown of his missing father on a search for his own origins, Dominic Rackett is swept up in a murky conspiracy involving a suspicious scholar, a Himalayan legend, and subliminal clues from a silent film festival. As those around him fall prey to rising fear and shrill fanaticism, he follows the branching trails of cinema monsters and figures from a very real past, as phantoms invade the streets of his once-familiar city and one of them, glimpsed in distorted shadows of alleys and urban parks, begins to look uncannily familiar.

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Amazon Links for Dominic’s Ghosts

Print Version: https://www.amazon.com/Dominics-Ghosts-Michael-Williams/dp/1948042584/

Kindle Version: https://www.amazon.com/Dominics-Ghosts-Quartet-Michael-Williams-ebook/dp/B07F5Z4L18/

Barnes and Noble Link for Dominic’s Ghosts: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dominics-ghosts-michael-williams/1129262622?ean=9781948042581

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Amateur theatre director Stephen Thorne plots a sensational production of a Greek tragedy in order to ruffle feathers in the small city where he lives. Accompanied by an eccentric and fly-by-night cast and crew, he prepares for opening night, unaware that as he unleashes the play, he has drawn the attention of ancient and powerful forces.

Michael Williams’ VINE: AN URBAN LEGEND weds Greek Tragedy and urban legend with dangerous intoxication, as the drama rushes to its dark and inevitable conclusion.

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Amazon Links for Vine – An Urban Legend

Print: https://www.amazon.com/Vine-Urban-Legend-Michael-Williams/dp/1948042622/

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Vine-Urban-Legend-Michael-Williams-ebook/dp/B07H45PVQB/

Barnes and Noble Link for Vine – An Urban Legend: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vine-michael-williams/1111767057?ean=9781948042628

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Gabriel Rackett stands at the threshold of middle age. He lives north of Chicago and teaches at a small community college. He has written one novel and has no prospects of writing another, his powers stagnated by drink and loss. Into his possession comes a manuscript, written by a childhood friend and neighbor, which ignites his memory and takes him back to his mysterious mentor and the ghosts that haunted his own coming of age. Now, at the ebb of his resources, Gabriel returns to his old haunts through a series of fantastic stories spilling dangerously off the page–tales that will preoccupy and pursue him back to their dark and secret sources.

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Amazon Links for Trajan’s Arch

Print:  https://www.amazon.com/Trajans-Arch-Michael-Williams/dp/1948042754/

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Trajans-Arch-Michael-Williams-ebook/dp/B07RD1RF9T/

Barnes and Noble Link for Trajan’s Arch: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trajans-arch-michael-williams/1100075829?ean=9781948042758

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When a body washes ashore downstream from the city, the discovery saddens the small neighborhood south of Broadway. A homeless man, T. Tommy Briscoe, whose life had intertwined with a bookstore, a bar, and the city’s outdoor theater had touched many lives at an angle. One was that of Mickey Walsh, a fly-by-night academic and historian, who becomes fascinated with the circumstances surrounding the drowning.

From the beginning there seems to be foul play regarding Briscoe’s death, and, goaded on by his own curiosity and the urging of two old friends, Walsh begins to examine the case when the police give it up. His journey will take him into the long biography of a man who might have turned out otherwise and glorious, but instead fell into and through the underside of history, finding harsh magic and an even harsher world. Despite the story of Tommy’s sad and shortened life, Walsh begins to discover curious patterns, ancient and mythic, in its events—patterns that lead him to secrets surrounding the life and death of Tommy Briscoe and reveal his own mysteries in the searching.

Tattered Men is one of the novels of the City Quartet, an interrelated group of novels that can be read in any order that also includes Dominic’s Ghosts, Trajan’s Arch, and Vine: An Urban Legend.

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Amazon Link for Tattered Men

Print: https://www.amazon.com/Tattered-City-Quartet-Michael-Williams/dp/194804286X/

Kindle:  https://www.amazon.com/Tattered-City-Quartet-Michael-Williams-ebook/dp/B07YF6T1GG/

Barnes and Noble Link for Tattered Men: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tattered-men-michael-williams/1133901517?ean=9781948042864

Author Info 
Over the past 25 years, Michael Williams has written a number of strange novels, from the early “Weasel’s Luck” and “Galen Beknighted” in the best-selling DRAGONLANCE series to the more recent lyrical and experimental “Arcady”, singled out for praise by Locus and Asimov’s magazines.


Williams’ highly anticipated City Quartet was completed by the publication of Tattered Men in October 2019. The four volumes may be read in any order–four stories that intertwine, centered in the same city, where minor characters in one novel become central in another:

“Vine: An Urban Legend” is the story of an amateur stage production In Louisville’s Central Park, gone darkly and divinely wrong.


“Dominic’s Ghosts” takes up the story of a son in search of his father in the midst of a murky conspiracy involving a suspicious scholar, a Himalayan legend, and subliminal clues from a silent film festival.


“Tattered Men” is the account of a disheveled biographer, writing the life story of a homeless man who may have been more than he ever seemed.


And “Trajan’s Arch” is a coming-of-age story replete with ghosts, a testimony to hauntings both natural and supernatural.


Williams was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and spent much of his childhood in the south central part of the state, the red-dirt gothic home of Appalachian foothills and stories of Confederate guerrillas. Through good luck and a roundabout journey, he made his way through New England, New York, Wisconsin, Britain and Ireland, and has ended up less than thirty miles from where he began. He has a Ph.D. in Humanities, and teaches at the University of Louisville, where he focuses on the Modern Fantastic in fiction and film. He is married and has two grown sons.

Author Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mythical-Realism-The-Michael-Williams-Page-128713900543978/

The Book Junkie Reads . . . Interview with Michael Williams . . .

How would you describe your style of writing to someone that has never read your work?
Almost always these days, when I’m first introduced to someone in publishing, it’s with my connection to Dragonlance.  I started my writing career with that series—was on the ground floor of the project and wrote the songs for the original Weis and Hickman novels.  It was a good place to begin, but my work has changed: these days I would say my novels are more magical realist—or mythical realist, as I prefer to call them, fictions that anchor themselves in the real world but employ the elements and structures of myth.  Fantasy and realism are given equal priority in books like those in the City Quartet: their worlds are not separate or even parallel, but thoroughly mingled and wedded.

Do you feel that writing is an ingrained process or just something that flows naturally for you?
I’m not sure I understand the distinction.  If you’re asking whether a writer is born or made, the answer is “yes.”  There’s such a thing as talent, of course, but talent in what? Imagination? Use of language? Storytelling?  Work ethic?  Discipline? Persistence?  Speaking as a teacher, I’ve had a lot of writers in my classroom, and the brilliant ones are not necessarily the ones who succeed. The dogged ones, the relentless, diligent ones—those are the writers who, up the road, may end up doing the best.

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)?
Solitude and method.  My temperament demands no distractions, so I make sure I work at a time where noise and other interruption are least likely.  What that means is that I prefer the very early hours (4 am to 7 am daily) and regular hours, very much like a work schedule—because it is work after all, isn’t it?  In fact, I fail to see how I could get much writing done if I tried to work “in spare hours,” or god forbid, when I “feel inspired”: inspiration rises out of order and habit for me—it’s the reward of sitting down daily and doing the work.

Have you found yourself bonding with any particular character(s)? If so which one(s)?
Often a minor character—or a character intended to be minor in the first place—seizes my attention and demands more ink and space.  When that happens, I listen to my instinct: it generally means that the character has moved from being a plot point and begun to brush against living, breathing humanity.  Unplanned for, unforeseen, characters like these call their own shots, and soon are more interesting, more compelling, than the ones I had mapped out in preliminary thinking or in outline.  I can’t imagine a character in search of a story; instead, character and story intertwine and nourish each other as they go.

Can you share your next creative project(s)? If yes, can you give a few details?
When I finished the City Quartet, one of my students asked what was next, and my answer—admittedly smart-assed at the time—was “what’s a quartet without a fifth book?”  Of late, that doesn’t seem as flippant.  I’m working on a novel composed of short stories and prose poems, an experimental, short book set in the world of the Quartet.

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

The non-human members of Tolkien’s Fellowship: the four hobbits, Legolas, Gimli, and Gandalf.  Aragorn always seemed too earnest and goody-goody, and who can trust Boromir, anyway?  I think it would make for a great and Unexpected Party.

Author Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mythical-Realism-The-Michael-Williams-Page-128713900543978/

Presented by

Tour Schedule and Activities

4/29    Marian Allen, Author Lady     https:/MarianAllen.com       Review

4/29    The Literary Underworld       http://www.literaryunderworld.com          Guest Post

4/29    Armed With a Book   http://www.armedwithabook.com Guest Post

4/30    The Book Junkie Reads . . .    https://thebookjunkiereadspromos.blogspot.com/           Author Interview

5/1      MyLifeMyBooksMyEscape    http://mylifemybooksmyescape.wordpress.com   Author Interview

5/2      Joel Harris       GoodReads.com         Review

5/3      The Book Lover's Boudoir     https://thebookloversboudoir.wordpress.com/     Review

5/4      Sheila's Guests and Reviews http://sheiladeeth.blogspot.com     Guest Post

5/5      Jazzy Book Reviews    https://bookreviewsbyjasmine.blogspot.com/      Guest Post

5/6      Willow Writes And Reads      https://willowwritesandreads.com/      Review

5/6 The Seventh Star Blog http://www.theseventhstarblog.com Guest Post

SPOTLIGHT w/INTERVIEW - MYTHS & LEGENDS - WHEN SHADOWS FALL (Dark Sun Dawn, #3) by Stephen Zimmer

An exciting new blog tour celebrating When Shadows Fall, the final book of the Dark Sun Dawn Trilogy by Stephen Zimmer, is taking place from January 15-22, 2020!  

The tour features interviews, guest posts, top tens, reviews, and even a tour-wide contest sponsored by the author! The contest offers bonus entries for following participating bloggers on Twitter and includes signed copies of the entire trilogy in paperback editions, among several other prizes!

If you like action-drive fiction, fantasy, sword and sorcery, or heroic tales with a strong female protagonist, this is the trilogy and tour for you!

WHEN SHADOWS FALL

(Dark Sun Dawn, #3)

by Stephen Zimmer

December 2^nd 2019

Seventh Star Press

Myth & Legend, Fantasy

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When shadows fall, the dominion of light reigns.


Rayden Valkyrie and her companions enter the Imperial City, the heart of the rising Teveren Empire.  Never before has her gaze taken in a city so vast, wealthy, and populous.  


Sensual delights, grandiose spectacles, and the spilling of blood enthrall wealthy and poor alike.  Beneath the surface, Rayden senses an undercurrent of a darker nature.


Learning everything she can of the venomous secrets lurking within the shadows, little time remains before a host of northern tribes arrives outside its walls.


Power lies within blood, and dark rituals have unlocked mysteries from the depths of the abyss.


Legions are on the march, a storm is about to unleash, and a dark sun will soon rise.


When Shadows Fall, the conclusion of the Dark Sun Dawn Trilogy.

Links for When Shadows Fall

Kindle Version:  https://www.amazon.com/When-Shadows-Fall-Dark-Dawn-ebook/dp/B07ZZJX1K8/

Amazon Print Version:  https://www.amazon.com/When-Shadows-Fall-Dark-Trilogy/dp/1948042908/

Barnes and Noble Link:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-shadows-fall-stephen-zimmer/1135226703?ean=9781948042901

Author Info  
Stephen Zimmer is an award-winning author and filmmaker based out of Lexington Kentucky. His works include the Rayden Valkyrie novels (Sword and Sorcery), the Rising Dawn Saga (Cross Genre), the Fires in Eden Series (Epic Fantasy), the Hellscapes short story collections (Horror), the Chronicles of Ave short story collections (Fantasy), the Harvey and Solomon Tales (Steampunk), and the Faraway Saga (YA Dystopian/Cross-Genre).


Stephen’s visual work includes the feature film Shadows Light, shorts films such as The Sirens and Swordbearer, and the forthcoming Rayden Valkyrie: Saga of a Lionheart TV Pilot.


Stephen is a proud Kentucky Colonel who also enjoys the realms of music, martial arts, good bourbons, and spending time with family.

The Book Junkie Reads . . . Interview with Stephen Zimmer

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

In a technical sense, I write in third-person limited.  I like to stay in the point of view of the character being focused on, so it is not an omniscient style of writing, but I do like to give as much depth as I can do scenes and interior processes.  I also would say that my style is “cinematic” in that I am a very visual person and when writing I immerse into an interior visual zone that I strive to convey in words.  

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

Writing tends to flow for me.  All writers have days when things are going a little slower, but the visual approach I have when writing has really worked well in terms of productivity in my writing sessions.  Once I mentally immerse into the story and am seeing it all playing out in my mind, I am underway with the writing of it. 

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)?

My approach has been to establish a physical writing space that is solely reserved for my writing. I have a computer that is not connected online and is only used for writing that is in a separate room from my home office.  It is at a desk I only use for writing as well. I always play music during my writing sessions, as it helps to block out extraneous outdoor noises and other sounds, heling to construct a “bubble” of sorts. Over time this use of a dedicated space led to me being able to “snap in” to a writing mode each time I sat down at my writing desk for a session.  Kind of “Pavlovian” but it has worked well for me in terms of avoiding writer’s block. 

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

I have bonded with many of my characters.  Janus from the Fires in Eden series is one I have a deep, emotional connection with due to the loss of our fathers in a similar manner.  The character I am most connected with, though, is Rayden Valkyrie, who emerged during a really difficult time in my life and served as a tether for me to fight my way back from a real low point.  She is an inspiration and example to me in many areas, from self-determination, to resilience, to the power of choice and willpower. I am always uplifted after spending time with Rayden in my writing endeavors. 

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

I do have a few, spread across my various series such as the Rising Dawn Saga (cross-genre/apocalyptic/dystopian), the Fires in Eden series (epic fantasy), and the Faraway Saga (YA/Dystopian) and in future stories for the Rayden Valkyrie Tales and Ragnar Stormbringer Tales.  Of course, to reveal them here would be to give some big spoilers. But there are several that really intrigue and interest me to explore and they add to the fire of inspiration toward my future writing projects.  

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

I am currently working on the finishing of the 4th installment in the epic fantasy Fires in Eden series.  It has been wonderful to return to the world of Ave and I am working hard to deliver readers an exciting thrill ride across a number of diverse settings.  I hope to finish up a couple of stand-alone novellas in the Rayden Valkyrie and Ragnar Stormbringer world soon after, before diving into the 5th book of the Rising Dawn Saga and the follow-up novel to Dream of the Navigator in the Faraway Saga. 

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

I do hope to make as much progress as I can in delivering new installments for several of my series and collections.  I would love to find a way to fit in a third installment of my Hellscapes tales (horror), as those are very different in style compared to most of my other work and are a lot of fun to explore as a writer.

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?

Everything in our world had its origin within the imagination.  Whether a mental concept, idea, or inspiration, the mental seed is what comes first before sprouting into a physical manifestation.  This is why storytelling, fiction, and the imagination are truly powerful forces, in that they dwell at the epicenter of creation and the creative process itself.  There, the impossible is possible, and more often than not, the things once deemed impossible in our world eventually become possible, and even realized. It is a sobering thing to think about, but it is definitely what is behind my drive to explore and depict numerous elements that I may not have experienced yet in the physical world. 

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

At the moment, I would love to go to Japan.  The people of Japan have such a fascinating culture and rich history, filled with incredible and majestic elements.  Plus, they even have islands and temples focused on cats, and the thought of visiting these places honoring fine felines always makes me smile!  I would love to explore Japan in person, from the ancient aspects to the modern. I know it would be a phenomenal and fascinating experience.  

Author Links:

Website: http://www.stephenzimmer.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/stephenzimmer7

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sgzimmer

Instagram:  http://www.instagram.com/stephenzimmer7

Enter the When Shadows Fall Blog Tour Contest for a chance at many prizes including a signed trilogy in print! Extra entries available when you follow participating bloggers on Twitter!

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Tour Schedule and Activities

1/15     MyLifeMyBooksMyEscape      http://mylifemybooksmyescape.wordpress.com       Author interview

1/16     Armed with A Book     http://www.armedwithabook.com     Guest Post

1/17     Armed with A Book     http://www.armedwithabook.com     Top Ten's List

1/17     Sapphyria's Books       https://saphsbooks.blogspot.com/     Guest Post

1/18     I Smell Sheep   http://www.ismellsheep.com/            Guest Post

1/19     Jazzy Book Reviews     https://bookreviewsbyjasmine.blogspot.com/           Author Interview

1/20     The Literary Underworld        http://www.literaryunderworld.com  Guest Post

1/20     Beauty in Ruins - She Leads he Reads   https://femledfantasy.home.blog     Guest Post

1/21     Sheila's Guests and Reviews   http://sheiladeeth.blogspot.com        Guest Post

1/22     The Book Junkie Reads . . .     https://thebookjunkiereadspromos.blogspot.com     Author Interview

1/22     Willow's Thoughts and Book Obsessions       http://wssthoughtsandbookobsessions.blogspot.com/            Review

Presented by

SPOTLIGHT w/INTERVIEW - SCIENCE FICTION ANTHOLOGY - THE BEST IS YET TO COME by John F. Allen

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

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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

Tour Schedule and Activities

1/13     MyLifeMyBooksMyEscape      http://mylifemybooksmyescape.wordpress.com       Author Interview

1/14     Jazzy Book Reviews     https://bookreviewsbyjasmine.blogspot.com/           Author Interview

1/15     Sheila's Guests and Reviews   http://sheiladeeth.blogspot.com        Guest Post

1/16     I Smell Sheep   http://www.ismellsheep.com/            Top Ten's List

1/17     Beauty in Ruins - She Leads he Reads    https://femledfantasy.home.blog    Guest Post

1/18     The Literary Underworld        http://www.literaryunderworld.com     Guest Post

1/19     The Seventh Star Blog             http://www.theseventhstarblog.com             Guest Post

1/20     The Book Junkie Reads . . .     https://thebookjunkiereadspromos.blogspot.com     Author Interview

1/20     Willow's Thoughts and Book Obsessions       http://wssthoughtsandbookobsessions.blogspot.com/            Review

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