Author Appleton

Writing. Fantasy. Sci-fi. Mystery

book

Official release date for Neverqueen2!

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You have been impatiently awaiting news on Neverqueen2. That’s understandable; I have not released a new fantasy novel since 2015! I know what you’re thinking, and yes, that’s shameful. I have, now, the official release date for Neverqueen2!

Coming in paperback and on your Kindle reader, Neverqueen2 will be available Friday November 3rd 2017. This book is finally drafted in its entirety, all that remains is to complete the editorial phases.

Teaser:

The wild forests west of the Eiderveis River harbor more mysteries than mankind knew. In the City of Paradon the highwaymen hold unconditional authority and wield it mercilessly. Only one young man, a cripple from birth, can bridge the dark present to the evil past. When finally the Neverqueen arises the Warden will be challenged.

Neverqueen (book 2) The Suffering Chalice will continue the story as begun in Neverqueen (book 1). This series directly relates to the primary series, The Sword of the Dragon, and is targeted to Young Adult and Adult readers.

In preparation for this book’s release I will be making author appearances, this Fall, at schools and other venues primarily in South Carolina. Event schedule will be released when available. If your school or other venue would like to host an event, please contact me via email: spappleton@gmail.com

Q: If you would like to help make readers aware of this book’s release, please let me know!

Short stories this Christmas!

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Christmas is my favorite time of year. When I was growing up I populated my wish list with books. One thing I dreamed of was writing books that other people would want to put on their Christmas lists. It was five years ago now (which is hard for me to believe) when I had signed a publishing contract with AMG Publishers and I had no books to sell until they released Swords of the Six. In the time between I bundled together my short stories into a new book titled By Sword By Right. It sold surprisingly well for a collection of short fiction, and ever since then I’ve always referred to it as my bathroom reader.

Originally this book was available in paperback as well as on Kindle, but the distributor I had placed it with charged an annual fee so I discontinued the print version. From time to time I still receive requests for By Sword By Right in paperback, and now Amazon’s platform has enabled me to re-release it in time for Christmas!

There is something magical about short stories. From my perspective they are more difficult to write. Everything for me turns into a long-form writing. Short stories usually sit in my “idea bucket” to be later transformed into novels. But with By Sword By Right I put my journey as a writer under the x-ray machine. I included stories that were some of my best writings, and some that were written prior to the launching of my writing career.

For Christmas this year if you are one of those readers who wants something to take into the bathroom or into a closet for a quick read, By Sword By Right has an assortment of fantasy, science fiction, fairy tales, biblical, and even allegory. This book demonstrates the diversity of my writing interests and will give you an idea of where all of my stories will take you. From dark underground worlds to surface utopias, and even into the interstellar divides.

There is no limit to where the imagination can take us. And we can explore the depths and heights of imagination through short stories in the moments that reading longer fiction prohibits.

Q: Do you enjoy short speculative fiction?

The Phantom’s Blade now available!

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My new fantasy novel is available in paperback and on Kindle! From across the sea the Maiden Voyage has failed to return to the Hemmed Land, leaving Ilfedo to wonder at the fate of his beloved Warrioresses… This story focuses on Ilfedo as none of the previous novels have. We see him for the grief-ridden man that he is… and we see his choice to rise above that grief and rejoice in the choices he’s made.

The Hemmed Land is in political confusion thanks to Vortain’s dissidence. As mayor of Ilfedo’s chief city Vortain holds great political sway. He openly opposes Ilfedo’s proposal to form a rescue expedition to bring the people of Dresdyn to the Hemmed Land, and regards the young woman Ilfedo brought back from the Hidden Realm with deep suspicion. Even more strong is his opposition to Lord Ilfedo’s declaration that, as the albino long ago prophecied, the entire population must seek a new homeland.

Holding himself to a promise, Ilfedo will not be swayed from seeking the people of Dresdyn. His allies are strong now. Few in the land hold the wisdom of Brother Hersis, and fewer still command the same respect in the military as Lord Ombre, and none have risen so high in the esteem of the people as Oganna.

An expedition launches to seek out the people beneath the desert sands, and only Ilfedo truly recognizes the nature of the enemy they face.

Please share with your friends and fellow fantasy enthusiasts! Christmas is a great time of year to continue this epic story.

Backstage pass! the value of interior design

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People do judge a book by its cover. It’s a fact, like it or not. Thus the high priority on a good cover. Hiring a professional artist is a must… But the next impression is just as important and that is the look and feel of the book’s interior. This week I wanted to do something a bit different by highlighting what a good typesetter can do for a novel.

You know the feeling. As a reader you walked into your favorite bookstore and began perusing the shelves for that fresh read. If you are like me the title is the first thing that jumps out at you. You pass over the boring titles (and the ones that scream copycat) and your eyes pause on something that interests you. You pull it off the shelf and immediately resist the urge to let the bile out of your stomach. Yep, the cover is just plain awful. Some author’s niece did it and it screams amateur. Subliminally you are now weighing the possibility in your mind that the author took just as little care and consideration for the content on the pages of that book. You are likely going to flip it open to try the first page (or a random one if you’re one of those kind). But the layout of the book looks as if it were pulled directly off of its MS Word document. The font is all-to-familiar, the chapter headings bland, and the margins are not justified. Your impression? This isn’t worth my time!

You know the other feeling too, of that title that catches your eye. The cover that gives you that Wow factor. Then at last (with one eye closed in case you’re to be disappointed again) you open the book. This time the book’s interior design, layout, and the typesetting are tight. Thus, undeterred you read the first pages with a lot more faith than you did in that amateurish book.

I say all of this to point out that some people are really good at what they do. They have a gift for turning something ordinary into a work of art that will delight the reader’s eye. Sometimes I have made the mistake of looking for the cheap out when it comes to book artwork, design, and typesetting. Yet constantly I see that hiring professionals to produce a great product builds my brand far better than if I cut corners.

For my first book and my two recent novels I used Katherine Lloyd. If you are interested in seeing what a professional does with a book I highly recommend you check out her website: TheDeskOnline Recently Katherine finished typesetting The Phantom’s Blade for me, which will release November 6th 2015. The product looks terrific and gives that touch of artistry that will really make reading this new novel a pleasure.

Q: What books have impressed you with their presentation, and which have turned you away?

Backstage Pass! In Search of Dragons: coming Fall 2015

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Yep, here is another cover reveal! This time for the cover of In Search of Dragons, the fourth installment in The Sword of the Dragon series.

After the events in Key of Living Fire, Ilfedo is prepared to lead an expedition back into the heart of the Resgerian desert. He must hold to his promise to return for the people of the underground city of Dresdyn, and to lead his people on a pilgrimage out of the Hemmed Land to find their new home. But his ambitions in that regard put him at odds once again with the mayor of Gwensin City, Vortain. Tensions mount as Vortain gathers the opposition, and Ilfedo must struggle with his own uncertainty to follow the prophecy long ago given to him.

Question: Which characters are you most looking forward to seeing again in In Search of Dragons?

Book Look! Pilgrim’s Progress

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Pilgrim’s Progress. I must have read that book three times when I was growing up and what an impression it left on me. John Bunyan’s classic allegory for many years was the best-selling book next only to the Bible. Even today its popularity is evidenced by the many various revisions and editions it has populated.

But why does this allegory resonate so well with people?

I think it has to do with the character of Christian and how he changes during the course of the story. After his conviction he follows the narrow way and each challenge along the path brings him closer to Paradise. Through a fantasy-type setting we can relate to Christian’s victories and his failings. We desire the same thing he did: victory over the Evil One and Eternal Life. We must struggle with faith in a physical world populated with individuals who deny God’s very existence or scoff at the necessity of repentance and a following after good works.

This book is timeless and powerful, encouraging us to be the men and women of God-granted potential.

Question: Have you read The Pilgrim’s Progress? Did it inspire you?