About Migmar the Gnome...

It has been an incredible week of Venom and Song discussion. During the CSFF Blog tour, over 75 separate posts have been made with who knows how many comments. Please see the previous article here and visit some of the links. Amazing analysis. But there was a post today by author John Otte asking about CH and I including a character in Venom and Song with a certain, er, uhm, problem. And I thought, wow, I better clear the air on this issue. {Pun very much intended}

Official Disclaimer: If the very mention of the word "flatulent" or any of its synonyms causes you feelings of dread, apprehension, or disgust, DO NOT READ ON. And by NO MEANS should you click on the picture below.

So here's the skinny on Migmar the Gnome King and his, uh, condition. There's a story behind that. Kind of a behind the scenes story. Christopher Hopper and I were in Scranton PA together, working on the outline for Curse of the Spider King. And you know how it is trying to come up with fantasy names. Some of us can take forever researching etymologies and looking up roots from Welsh, Celt, Saxon, etc.

Well, we stumbled upon, not a name generator, but a generic fantasy character generator. It basically had a HUGE database of creatures, races, and people PLUS identifying characteristics. It was pretty late at night, and Christopher and I were kind of goofy. And we kept clicking the generator to read these really random silly character combinations. Things like: drooling, red-headed knight, bug-eyed gargoyle with a limp and so forth. We were literally in tears and clutching our gut b/c the funniest character generated was "Flatulent Barrister Gnome!" Ever since then, it's been an inside joke and we decided to bring Migmar to life in Venom and Song.

So there it is. Don't hate us.

Venom and Song Blog Tour Monday thru Wednesday!

Venom and Song

Hi, all!

Christopher Hopper and I are stoked because starting today (Monday), RIGHT NOW, Venom and Song is the featured book for the Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog Tour. That means that bloggers all over the country will be posting interviews, behind-the-scenes info, reviews, and all kinds of Berinfell craziness!

All readers, please check out the blogs below for uber cool stuff about Venom and Song! The tour begins today, but there will be new stuff posted every day of the tour! Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday! Righteous!

PS: if you visit a site and you don't see Berinfell stuff, check back later as we all live in different time zones.

Angela
Brandon Barr
Keanan Brand
Amy Browning
Beckie Burnham
Morgan L. Busse
Melissa Carswell
Jeff Chapman
Valerie Comer
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
D. G. D. Davidson
April Erwin
Tori Greene
Ryan Heart
Bruce Hennigan
Timothy Hicks
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Leighton
Rebecca LuElla Miller
John W. Otte
Donita K. Paul
Chawna Schroeder
Tammy Shelnut
James Somers
Kathleen Smith
Rachel Starr Thomson
Robert Treskillard
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Jason Waguespac
Dona Watson
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson
Nissa

Huge thanks to all the bloggers for all your hard work on behalf of the mission. Thanks to my readers for checking out some of these great blogs. You may find some great writing resources too!

Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog Tour: Monday thru Wed this Week!

 Greetings all! I'm stoked to let you know that Curse of the Spider King will be featured this week on the Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog Tour. If you don't know the CSFF, allow me to tell you that their mission in life is to make more and more readers aware of good SciFi & Fantasy written by Christian Authors.

With each tour, an awful lot of bloggers put in an awful huge effort to discuss, review, promote, and celebrate good books. In the process, they usually run the book being discusses into the Top Ten Book Blogs on the enter world wide web. Pretty impressive eh?

Christopher Hopper and I are honored to be featured this week. So, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, you won't catch me on my own blog very much, but I will be visiting everyone on the blogroll below. Please join me. Drop some comments. Give us your .02.

On the following blogs, you'll find all kinds of new interviews with CH and I, not to mention some stories about us and the book that you'll find NO WHERE else.

Brandon Barr
Justin Boyer
Amy Browning
Valerie Comer
Amy Cruson
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Shane Deal
Jeff Draper
Emmalyn Edwards
April Erwin
Karina Fabian
Todd Michael Greene
Ryan Heart
Timothy Hicks
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Tina Kulesa
Melissa Lockcuff
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Mirtika
Nissa
John W. Otte
Cara Powers
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Speculative Faith
Robert Treskillard
Fred Warren
Jason Waguespac
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson
KM Wilsher

CSFF Blog Tour, Day 2: All about the Vanishing Sculptor

The above review and teaser summary came from CrossWayz reviews, an awesome one-stop-review shop for all books that honor God and light a fire for the faithful. I agree wholeheartedly with their take on The Vanishing Sculptor.

Donita K. Paul and I have been friends for a while now. So when she inquired as to whether I would read her new book, The Vanishing Sculptor, I jumped at the chance. Here's my review blurb below: 

“Have you ever looked at a painting from a distance and thought it beautiful, only to draw nearer to it and realize it was more exquisite, complex, and wonderful than you ever imagined? The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita K. Paul is like that. I began reading and liked it. As usual, I found myself happily enveloped in a vivid world full of emerlindians, tumanhofers, and dragons. But then, just when I thought the work was beautiful, something deep within me started to tingle…and I began to see that The Vanishing Sculptor was far more than simple entertainment or escape. I had one ‘Ah Ha!’ moment after another. Clues everywhere, right in front of my eyes, blossomed into truth until, at last, I put down the book and swam in the rich waters of adventure, peace, and blessed melancholy–that rare state revealing you’ve been touched by the story of an inspired author. The Vanishing Sculptor is sure to be loved by readers and re-readers of every age.”

Uhm...what are you waiting for? Click the link to the right in my sidebar. Get the book…and prepare to be immersed by a wonderful tale.

CSFF Blog Tour for Stephen Lawhead's Scarlet, Day One

Today is Day One of the CSFF Blog Tour for Mr. Stephen Lawhead newest book:
Scarlet
Most readers of fantasy know of Mr. Lawhead's groundbreaking work with the Pendragon Cycle and the Song of Albion Books. He blends amazing historicity with clever fantasy and the result is nothing short of magnificent. I've not read Hood or Scarlet, but the reviews are very strong. If you'd like to read a sample, check out the sneak preview chapters at:
Mr. Lawhead's Cooler-Than-Cool Website

If you're looking for something cool to read this Christmas season, give Stephen Lawhead's King Raven Trilogy, Book 1: Hood, Book 2: Scarlet, today!

Bark of the Bog Owl by Jonathan Rogers: CSFF Blog Tour Day 1

I must admit I initially avoided Bark of the Bog Owl when I saw it sitting on the shelf in Christian Bookstores. I noticed it for sure. How could I not? Very cool, ancient-looking cover, complete with mysterious heraldric symbols and gator-skin.

But as I read the blurb, it came off to me as being for much younger children. So, shamefully, I didn't give it a try. That was until my son Bryce took an interest in reading. Of course, none of my kids want to read my books, but they'll read just about anything else I give them. So I picked up Bog Owl.

One word review: ENCHANTING.

OK, I lied. More words coming up: Seriously though, BotBO was enchanting--the kind of tale that knocks down the walls of your cubicle and whisks you off to some place other. My boys and I couldn't wait to jump back into Corenwald--esp. when we got to read more about the Feechies! Original Fantasy Race Award for Mr. Rogers for his fascinating Feechies.

That's my one complaint, however, not enough Feechie action. But that's minor. My boys and I loved the book. Sir Jonathan is a gifted storyteller, and, by all accounts, a true gentleman.

CSFF Blog Tour: George Bryan Polivka, Day 2

Greetings all! Welcome to Day Two: The Legend of the Firefish by George Bryan Polivka. The cover you see above is the recently released 2nd book in the Trophy Chase Trilogy. I'm a big fan of trilogies, and so far...this one sounds like a winner. Love the title "Hand That Bears the Sword." Very evocative. It makes promises to the reader, and from all accounts, it lives up to those promises.

Today, from Harvest House's website, an interview with George Bryan Polivka:

First things first: take us back to the beginning and explain how you became interested in writing. Have you always wanted to write fantasy fiction? What inspired you to start?
I’ve always written. I wrote my first book, which I also illustrated, when I was seven– or eight–years–old. It was a comical spy thriller. I have no idea what happened to it, but I know it was never published. It was well–accepted by its target audience, though, which consisted of my parents. I’ve been writing ever since.

I became interested in fantasy in high school, when a friend gave me a copy of The Fellowship of the Ring. I was deeply, deeply moved by the trilogy and read it several times. I wasn’t a Christian, and these books spoke about good and evil, light and darkness, in a way I had never encountered. Then the same friend introduced me to Narnia. Eventually, I followed the light to its source. So, truth–filled fantasy has always been extremely important to me. I wrote my first novel just after graduating from college, almost got it published, and then wrote ten more before Harvest House found one they liked.

How did you dream up the premise for the Trophy Chase series, and how did you develop the idea of the Firefish?
The Legend of the Firefish is neither my first nor my latest novel, but something I started about a dozen years ago. I can’t remember the exact sequence of events that triggered the creation of Nearing Vast, but I know there were multiple inspirations. Before I graduated with my English degree I had done two years in Bible college, planning to go into the ministry. I was not expelled, but dropped out. When I wrote the first draft of Firefish, I’d been in the business world for ten years or so, and was impressed (not always positively) by the risks entrepreneurs were willing to take. That was about the time that the Internet began to take off, and there was a serious glow around new technologies in general. I remember thinking that a man with no fear could harness a new technology, even a very dangerous one, and exploit it to make himself rich. Or, he could try to use it for good. Out of all that, somehow, came Packer Throme, Scat Wilkins, and the Firefish.

Have you had any experience aboard sailing ships? What do you think it is about a seafarer’s or pirate’s life that is so captivating?
I’ve been on tall ships, and to me they are poetry. I’m not sure why that is, but there is nothing on earth that speaks to the longing of the soul quite like the sea, and nothing that gets to the heart of the sea like a tall ship. And this trilogy is really about longing, about different longings, and where they lead when you follow them. That’s why I chose this setting.

Tell us about Panna and your motivation to create such a strong female character.
I remember being in a college English class when my professor, a woman, stated flatly that “men can’t write believable women characters.” I took it as a challenge. I think good writing is about getting inside people’s heads, finding what’s unique and interesting about them, discovering motivations, and then letting them be themselves for good or ill in different situations. Strong women are strong in ways that men just aren’t, and they make different mistakes. I find those differences compelling and interesting and worth exploring.

I know that a woman’s traditional role is more service oriented, while a man’s is more control oriented. But for generations women have managed to control through their service—and I don’t mean by being manipulative (though of course that has been known to happen!). I mean by giving love sacrificially, for the reward of having given it. Sacrificial love may appear soft on the surface, maybe unmanly, but it is an extraordinarily powerful force that shapes everything around it. And in healthy situations, that love is returned in full measure with devotion. That’s the fundamental family dynamic, usually driven by the mother. And it’s also the heart of the Christian message. It’s what God did, and does, for us. Panna doesn’t reflect all that perfectly, of course. If she did, she wouldn’t be very believable. But it is her basic orientation, part of which she fights against, part of which she embraces with great passion. I think people want to see how all that turns out for her, which makes her both strong and compelling.

One of the great things about the Trophy Chase trilogy is watching Packer and Panna’s love story unfold. So does this mean you are a romantic at heart? What dragons did you slay to win your own lady’s heart?
Jeri and I have been married for more than 25 years, and we do have our own love story, and it’s quite a yarn. It’s got romance, comedy, tragedy. Add children, and you get the whole gamut, like it or not! In Firefish, we’re seeing Packer and Panna at the outset of their life together, when everything revolves around romance. Jeri and I met when we were teenagers. So yes, I drew heavily on the only love story I know. How could I not? But we’re a private couple. You won’t get me to kiss and tell!

Where do you think your creativity comes from? When you sit down to write, crafting characters like Talon, Packer Throme, and of course the illustrious Firefish, how do you get the creative juices flowing?
I’ve heard about this thing called “writer’s block,” but I have never experienced it. I don’t always feel like writing, but I never have trouble sitting down and doing it, or getting into characters’ heads, or crafting a scene. One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was “just write the good stuff.” When you’ve got it in your head that you want to do a scene, and you can see it, and you feel the joy of it coming on, and you’re thinking how cool it would be if this happened or that happened, just write it. Don’t say to yourself, “Oh, I’m not there yet. I have to write all this other stuff that leads up to it first.” People tell me that the Trophy Chase books really move, that they can’t put them down. My father likes to call Firefish a “Pirate 24” and tells everyone that Packer Throme is Jack Bauer with a sword (although, for the record, I wrote Packer’s adventures long before there was a Jack Bauer!). But I think that’s why the stories are packed with so much adventure. I just write the scenes I like. And apparently other people like them too, for which I’m very thankful.

In The Trophy Chase trilogy, you communicate the Christian message overtly, rather than allegorically or symbolically. What factored into this decision?
One thing that always bothered me about Middle Earth and Narnia was that for the good side, the spirituality was always symbolic, while the evil was literal. Never seemed quite fair to me. And so I asked myself, why does it have to be that way? I don’t think mentioning God should be breaking some rule of fantasy etiquette. Why should it put people off, so long as it’s part of the story and it makes sense to who the characters are? Setting these books in Nearing Vast, with its 18th century–like environment, made it very natural to address Christianity and its trappings, the church, priests, prayer, all of it, in a way that is both fun and meaningful. It’s easier to see where God is and where He isn’t when you don’t have to deal with the cultural baggage the church lugs around today. I find that refreshing, and I’m pleased that others seem to as well.

A recurring theme in the storyline of The Legend of the Firefish is that of submitting to God’s will and recognizing one’s own weakness. How have these themes played out in your own life?
My. Okay. Where to begin? Well, what makes fantasy ring true, is... truth. My life, looked at through the very significant lens of this particular truth, could be said to be one long lesson on this topic. As a long–time evangelical, I’ve heard messages about submitting to God’s will and recognizing one’s dire weakness over and over, but it’s almost always tied to salvation. Bow your head and confess, and ask God, and He’ll do what you can’t... He’ll save you. But somehow we forget that this is how we are to live our lives every day. Somehow we don’t think that falling to our knees and humbly confessing and crying out for his mercy is an everyday occurrence and the way we should behave all the time. I’m not sure why that is. It’s not like the message is hidden between the lines in Scripture... Pride comes before a fall. The meek shall inherit the earth. The last shall be first. Offer your bodies as living sacrifices. Turn the other cheek. Think of others as more important than yourself. It was the theme Jesus lived and said we are to live as well. He was raised up and given all the power in the universe because He humbled Himself to death, we are told— and even death on a cross. And we are to do likewise.

I have had a lot of success in my life. I have powered through, sometimes, on my own strength. And then my strength has failed me, and I’ve failed. But when I have cried out to God in pain, in humiliation, in weakness, He has always answered. He has lifted me up out of trials that seemed every bit as severe as anything Packer Throme ever experienced. That’s His power, not mine. And we all go through these times. God knocks us down, or lets us get knocked down, hoping we’ll learn how to trust Him there on our knees. If I ever write my autobiography, I’ll have to title it Just Stay Down! I still need to learn that. Because “knocked down” is where the power is, and where life and joy come from. That’s where God gives strength and the only success that matters.

—George Bryan Polivka, author of Legend of the Firefish

Bryan, let me know if I'm NOT supposed to borrow this interview from the Harvest Website. Not trying to step on toes. ;-)

CSFF Blog Tour: George Bryan Polivka's Legend of the Firefish, Day One

Greetings all! Welcome to Day One introducing you to a great new Christian Fantasy book: The Legend of the Firefish by George Bryan Polivka. Now, I haven't read the book. Sadly, I've a deadline to meet and little time to read. And, honestly, I've heard so many great things about this "Piratey" fantasy that I'm a little leery of reading it because I'm afraid it might somehow influence the pirate adventure I'm writing right now. LOL

Nonetheless, I believe this to be a book series worth your time. So over the next three days, I'm going to provide as much introduction as I can dig up.

Today, a word from the author himself:

“I am one soldier in a great army of many, many thousands who have been enchanted and changed by the works of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. When I first ventured into Middle Earth, the outcome of the battle between good and evil, between creation and destruction within my own soul was far from certain. In a very real way the eternal loyalties of my heart were forged in Narnia. It is therefore my sincerest prayer that you will find your journey into the Kingdom of Nearing Vast worthy, if only in some small measure, of so rich a heritage, and so complete a victory.”
—George Bryan Polivka, author of Legend of the Firefish

I can get behind an author like this swordbrother. Amen?

CSFF Blog Tour, Day 3: Fearless by Robin Parrish

You have to love Google. Today, I went hunting for factoids about Robin Parrish and his new book Fearless. For the final day of the blog tour, I'm showing you some of the cool stuff I found.

Bio:

Robin Parrish had two great ambitions in his life: to have a family, and to be a published novelist.

In March of 2005, he proposed to his future wife the same week he signed his first book contract.

Born Michael Robin Parrish on October 13, 1975, Robin's earliest writing efforts took place on a plastic, toy typewriter, and resulted in several "books" (most between 10 and 30 pages long) and even a few magazines.

By the age of thirteen, he had begun winning local writing awards and became a regular in his high school's literary magazine. In college, he garnered acclaim from his English professors and fellow students while maturing and honing his skills.

After college, he entered the writing profession through a "side door" -- the Internet. More than ten years he spent writing for various websites, including About.com, CMCentral.com, and his current project Infuze Magazine, which is a unique intersection between art and faith which he also conceived of and created.

One of his more "high concept" ideas for Infuze was to return to his love for storytelling and create a serialized tale that would play out every two weeks, telling a complete, compelling story over the course of nine months. That serialized story eventually came to the attention of several publishers, who saw it as a potential debut novel for Robin Parrish.

In 2005, Bethany House Publishers brought Robin full circle by contracting him for the rights to not only that first book -- but two sequels. A trilogy, to unfold in the consecutive summers of 2006, 2007, and 2008. One massive tale -- of which that first, original story would form only the foundational first volume of the three -- spread across three books.

Robin is the Editor in Chief and creator of Infuze Magazine. He and his wife Karen reside in High Point, North Carolina. Karen works for High Point's First Wesleyan Church, where Robin and Karen are members and Small Group leaders.

Comic Books Based on the Books? COOL!!

Download this incredible Comic FREE by Clicking HERE!

And, as the gameshow host says to the mystified contestand: "And that's not all!!!"

COOLEST of COOL Cover ART



A Forum for Fans to Discuss the books!
CLICK HERE

If that hasn't convinced you that FEARLESS should
be on your TO-BE-READ Pile, you might want to
make sure you can still fog a mirror.
(And I mean that in the nicest possible way)

Click HERE to order your copy of FEARLESS!

CSFF Blog Tour Day 2: Fearless by Robin Parrish

Robin Parrish
Author of Fearless

Hundreds of super-beings walk among earth's inhabitants. An unexplained series of natural disasters have shaken the populace to its core. Fear fills the heart of every human being. But in the darkness there is hope; the man known as Grant Borrows, whom the public has dubbed Guardian. He is heroic, powerful, and fearless. While Grant enjoys this new life, those close to him worry he may be hiding a terrible secret. A search for answers brings Grant and his friends to London, where an extraordinary discovery awaits that will challenge everything they thought they knew. With a deadly new enemy dogging his steps, Grant realizes that the world's only hope may come from unraveling the truth about himself once and for all. But what he comes face-to-face with leaves even this most powerful of men shaken with fear...

This is the introductory blurb for Parrish's marvelous SpecFaith Thriller: Fearless. It is the 2nd book in the Dominion Trilogy. Check out both books by clicking on the links below:

RELENTLESS Link

FEARLESS Link

Are you FEARLESS?

This month's CSFF Blog Tour Book is Robin Parrish's new thriller, Fearless. I must confess I have not read the book, but knowing Robin, I'm sure it rocks. I've also noted that Fearless is showing up FACE OUT in several major bookstore chains. That's a big deal. It means the publisher believes in the story. It also means the publisher is pumping some $$ into marketing because bookstore real estate costs the publisher major green.

If you'd like to Purchase Fearless by Robin Parrish, click HERE.

The #1 Book Reviewer on Amazon gave Fearless 5 Stars and had this to say:
The world teeters on the brink of extinction under the RELENTLESS surge of natural disasters; obviously people are terrified as no respite happens between tragedies. The only hope is Grant "Guardian" Burrows who leads a group of Loci Ringwearers trying to save humanity. These Shifted Loci were once people for instance Grant was Collin Boyd, but now has a new body with extraordinary mental prowess. The Secretum of Six believes he is The Bringer who ancient prophecy claims will bring in a new age to the world.

Grant and his Loci pack do not hesitate to use their powers for the better good of humanity. However, as the Secretum of Six continue to watch the events unfold towards the coming of The Bringer bringing the new age with him, Grant realizes he and his team are not achieving much though the populace cherishes them as superheroes. He starts an odyssey to learn the truth whether he is the Bringer, but that means seeking his past as Collin and who knows what else he will find even before that persona. Thus he is pulled in two directions: saving what he can of the world now vs. saving what is left of the world assuming he understands and can make the Bringer prophecy happen. Either way people will die in biblical numbers

Whereas RELENTLESS set the stage with the series of disasters and the initial introduction to the Collin/Grant tyro superhero, FEARLESS goes deeper into his essence and his predicament as he gains superhero experience and begins to understand his limitations. Thus the audience sees Grant and his colleagues struggle with the demands and their limited ability to supply solutions. This action-packed suspense fantasy also goes deeper inside the mysterious Secretrium and provides more information re the Bringer Prophesy. Readers will enjoy the middle book while waiting the conclusion to learn whether it is end of the world, beginning of a new age, or status quo of pandemic disasters.

Harriet Klausner

CSFF Tour, Day 1: Sharon Hinck, The Restorer

Knights and Ladies, Hear Ye, Hear Ye! On this day, the 18th of July, in the year of Our Lord 2007, I bring you good tidings: The Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog Tour has rolled into town once more. And over the next three days, you will come to know an author and a book series that may change the Fantasy Genre forever.

Sharon Hinck and The Restorer

A brief introduction of Author and Story:

Sharon Hinck is one of those people you just instantly like. She's smart, she's genuine, and she has that unique kindness that can only come from the Lord. And though she'd no doubt blush and wave off such speech, being the humble one that she is, I want folks to know, you will not find a more sincere Christian in this world. She knows her own frailties, and she knows His voice. All these qualities are woven skillfully into the first books in The Sword of Lyric Series: The Restorer.

The Restorer borrows a thread from Narnia in that you have a portion of the story anchored in this world--reality, 2007, etc. But the bulk of the story takes place elsewhere. And I mean an elsewhere you haven't seen before. Very cool settings, crossing genres between scifi and fantasy in an innovative way. The story is about Susan, a soccer mom. She's got her hands full. She's struggling. She feels woefully inadequate to be a wife, a mother…or a Christian. But the most powerful aspect of Susan for me is that she reveals a side of Christian Life that most of us are afraid to reveal lest we be deemed less spiritual by our peers, or worse, branded "unsaved." You see Susan feels disappointed by God. She wonders about life, "Is this all there is?" Now, I'm a guy's guy, far from a soccer mom, but I found myself connecting with Susan on many different levels. And I wanted to cheer as I read about Susan's faith struggles because, people, faith is supposed to be a struggle when you live in a fallen world. I would go so far as to say that if everything seems to be going your way for a long period of time: a) watch out because life is about to fall all over you OR b) could it be that you are too close to the world? Jesus said we would struggle. And Susan lives the real world struggle right there for us, offering us hope that we're not alone in this.

Again, I think that Susan is this way because the author has lived it. And I have to tell you, open up The Restorer, and get ready for some late nights of reading! You won't be putting it down too soon.

I mentioned that I thought The Restorer could change the fantasy genre forever. More on that tomorrow.

One final Food-for-thought:

I was at the beach recently, and I brought four books with me: three New York Times Bestsellers, and Sharon Hinck's The Restorer. Out of the four, I read The Restorer.

Nuff said.

It's CSFF Blog Tour Day Two/Three: Karen Hancock's Return of The Guardian King

Read this excerpt from
Karen Hancock's
Return of the Guardian King

(Click on the page for larger size)

I know, I'm a little behind the time, but I'm celebrating Day 2 and Day 3 of the CSFF Blog Tour Today! My focus for day two is the Written Craft. Karen writes beautifully. It's no wonder she's won four Christy Awards ( a fifth on the way?). Her vocabulary is not just huge, but accurate and evocative. Her sentences are fluid. Her verbs active and driving. As an author myself, I read Karen's work, and it inspires me to learn more about the craft.

Several things strike me about this all-important opening page of the novel. First, note the use of italics. This tells the reader there's something different about this text. Either it's someone's thoughts, a supernatural voice, or a memory. Or, as Karen uses it, it shows us Maddie's song.

Then, notice the phrase bell-toned voice, sunlight, open meadow, yellow butterfly, patch of rippling grass, bloom-laden stalks, etc. Gorgeous, lyrical writing to be sure, but it's also very purposeful. Karen's setting you up by building mood through word choice. I mean how serene and comfortable would this scene be? You feel like you want to leap into the book and sprawl onto your back in the tall grass. But then, WHAM!! Karen just hits you with a 2 X 4. Look at the words on the next page.

(Click on the page for larger size)

Look at how the vocabulary changes to words that not only describe but evoke negative, uncomfortable feelings. Cold, misery, screamed, pelting, slivers, snow-caked, dangling, frozen, numb, squinted, shuddering, etc. For the writers who visit Enter the Door Within, take note of Karen's expertise. Every word counts. Eliminate vague or overused descriptors and use precise language that carves not only an image into the reader's mind, but also an emotion. You touch the emotions, the heart, the soul of your readers, and they will read you forever.


If this first segment was enough to hook you, you can buy Karen's book by clicking the link below. I've also listed the first three books in Karen's awesome series.

Return of the Guardian King

#1: Light of Eidon

#2 Shadow Over Kiriath

#3 The Shadow Within

*All excerpts of text are from Return of the Guardian King by Karen Hancock, Bethany House Publishing, 2007, used by permission.

It's CSFF Blog Tour Day One: Karen Hancock's Return of The Guardian King

Today is the first day of a 3 Day Blog Tour
for Karen Hancock's wonderful new fantasy tale:

Return of the Guardian King

Much more in the coming days, but for now:

If you'd like to see what Amazon has to say about The Return of the Guardian King, click HERE.

If you'd like to learn more about Karen Hancock, visit her site by clicking HERE or her blog by clicking HERE.

Wayne's Incomplete Review:
I begin by confessing, I haven't finished RotGK yet. I further confess that I have not read the first three books of Karen's series. SO please understand, my review is incomplete--my judgments flawed, insights lacking, and overall perspective somewhat limited.

Knowing that I have not had the pleasure of reading the first three books of the series, I expected to find myself completely confused and disinterested in the series finale. After all, I wouldn't want someone to read The Final Storm as their first Door Within Trilogy experience. But I have to tell you, I was dead wrong. So far, I love everything about RotGK. I feel like I understand it, and those things that I cannot understand have enough hints to let me draw my own conclusions, and I like that very much. Half the fun of reading is translating the implied meanings and the trail of breadcrumbs left by the author. So here are my overall comments. Beware, minor spoilers ahead.

Weaknesses:
• Very few, so far.
• The Front Cover is a turn off for me. I know that goes against popular consensus, and I am certain that, for most readers, the cover is eye catching and will draw them right in. It is without a doubt, evocative and beautiful to behold. The colors are striking and cool, and the King looks handsome and Kingly. But that's partially my problem. Abramm looks too pretty. He looks like a poor-man's Fabio photoshopped into an oil painting. Perhaps this is my Wayne Lens bringing too much to the party. After all, I grew up with my mom having 6ft bookcases stuffed with Harlequin Romances and the like. If I'm hunting for fantasy, the gushy-romance vibe makes me look elsewhere. Funny thing is, Stephen Erikson's Gardens of the Moon has a very similar look to it. If you've read the book, you know how misleading that is. Holy cow, is his stuff rough and tumble, severe even. And like Erikson's cover, Karen's cover really doesn't convey the incredible riches to be found once you get past it…not to me anyway.

• Minor issue here: Karen has a tendency to use pronouns when the antecedent is somewhat unclear. That's it. I don't have anything else to call weakness.

Strengths:
• The Language: Stephen King says he gets asked a lot of questions, but no one ever talks about his language. I can't commit that sin here. Karen's language is evocative, flowing, and rich. I get lost in her fluid sentences and structure. See Day Two Blog for more on this!

• Hook Factor: Books IMHO must hook a reader in the first paragraph, page, and chapter. Even though this is book 4 in the series and Karen could have rested on the fact that she's already got her readers OR they wouldn't have come this far, she does not. Karen throws a wonderful GOT-YA moment on the very first page. Spoiler alert. Abramm is about to be reunited with his beloved wife. He hears her singing and playing in the distance. He can picture himself hugging his children in the warm sunlight. He's almost there, just around the bend and…WHAM, he's not there at all! He's just slipped on an icy precipice. He's in the midst of a blizzard on the side of a mountain. Wow, talk about pulling out the rug! Never a dull moment so far.

• Real Characters: Karen's characters, (esp. Abramm) are not cliche. They are as real as you or I. They have hopes, dreams, flaws, and baggage. Stranded with a ragtag bunch of villagers, Abramm tries to convince them to press on through the storm. They resist. One accuses Abramm, "'...He just wants to get t' the monastery as fast as he can so he lose the rest of us and strike out fer Trakas on his own. Ye heard him the other night--he doesn't care a pin what happens t'us.'
The accusation stung precisely because of its element of truth." Abramm is no better-than-thou. He has cracks and fissures. And the enemy will attempt to exploit them.

• Great Creatures and Monsters: For me, a fantasy isn't worth it unless there are wonderfully imaginative and scary beasties about. Balrogs, wights, shades, Razac, etc. Bring it on. Karen does. The Rhu'ema are fantastic--demonically invisible to all but Abramm, and mannnn, like a pack of Screwtapes, they mess with Abramm constantly. And my favorite is Tapheina--a werewolf vixen of sorts whose breath has a potent allure to it. Hmmm...not the stuff I usually read in Christian fiction. There are many more creatures, of course, but that's just another reason to love this book.

• Spiritual Insight: Like The Screwtape Letters, RotGK can open your eyes to spiritual truths. Seeing into the demonic world unmasks some of the things we Christians all too easily (and sometimes lustily) ignore. The "Path of Light" motif is everpresent, but skillfully handled. As Abramm notes, the path of righteousness is visible to us, if we bother to look, and…actually want to find it.

Wonderful book, Karen! May your mind be filled with endless streams of future stories for all of us to enjoy!


*All excerpts of text are from Return of the Guardian King by Karen Hancock, Bethany House Publishing, 2007, used by permission.

CSFF Blog Tour Day 3: Where the Map Ends

And now for something completely different…


These words, uttered by the infamous Monty Python troupe also very much remind me of Jeff Gerke's Where the Map Ends.

If you haven't already, check out the Fantastic Visions section. I love Fantasy art. As you can see above, I dabble in a little 3D art myself. Actually helps me create settings for my books. But the artists on Jeff's site make me look like a toddler with a gray crayon.

Check out THIS

And THIS...

And THIS...

And THIS...

And Future Published Authors: don't forget this section because you're going to need someone to illustrate your cover!

CSFF Tour, Day 2: Where the Map Ends

Where the Map Ends: An Author's Armory

Remember that scene from Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, the scene where Aragorn is discouraged by the situation at Helm's Deep?* He knows a cloud of orcs is about to descend, and he knows that the defender force of those who "have seen too many winters…or too few" will be sorely inadequate to face the coming storm. Aragorn meets a young lad, sees the fear in this teen warrior's eyes, and something changes for Aragorn. He decides then and there that the odds may be in the enemy's favor, but there is hope. He breathes life into this young warrior's heart, and in so doing, Aragorn finds his own strength. Then, the good part: a pounding, pulsing brass musical score playing beneath the scene, Aragorn enters the armory and starts gearing up. Belts tightened, swords--and daggers--sheathed, coats of mail girded, and bows slung! Aragorn is ready for battle.

This scene is remarkably applicable to the Christian writer, esp. to one not yet published. You may be struggling, not knowing where to begin. Maybe you're daunted by questions: Is there a market for Christian Fantasy or SciFi? How do I get an agent? Maybe even…What font, size, and spacing should I use for a manuscript? Maybe, like Aragorn, you feel called to do something great but feel inadequate for the task. The enemy may seem huge--overwhelming even. But then…you visit the armory, Where the Map Ends, and everything changes.

Jeff Gerke, creator of
Where the Map Ends.

Jeff Gerke has put together an Armory for the Christian Writer. You want tips to improve your writing, click HERE. You want ideas to get you started or unblocked, click HERE. You want an overview of how to get published, click HERE. Agents, Advances, Marketing, Writing a Synopsis--it's all found at the click of a button on Where the Map Ends.

Mannnn, if I'd only known all this about fifteen years ago…LOL

The main page of the Jeff's site is enough to stir the writing passion God has placed within you. Don't believe me? See what it did for author Christopher Hopper. But if the passion is already simmering, but you just don't know where to start, may I suggest you begin Where the Map Ends.

*Yes, I'm a LoTR geek and fiercely proud of it.

Where the Map Ends...

The February CSFF Blog Tour ventures into new territory for the next coupla days. We won't be reviewing a book at all, but rather a righteous SciFi/Fantasy Website called:

Where the map ends.

I've only begun to explore its richness. But so far it seems to be a treasure trove for anyone who likes to write or read SciFi/Fantasy. I particularly enjoyed the interview with Frank Peretti.

The booklist ROCKS as well. Just make sure (ala the Matrix) that you take the RED pill.

More over the next coupla days. Click on the link above or in the sidebar to go…Where the map ends!