Author Appleton

Writing. Fantasy. Sci-fi. Mystery

Archives for September 2014

Now Available! “Neverqueen” Revamped!

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Revamping the Neverqueen book turned out even better than I had hoped. The presentation of the spine text combined with the new cover art make it feel larger.

I hope all you fantasy readers are as excited about this as I am! This book is one of my best pieces to date. The story turned out just the way I envisioned it. A little mystery, a little edge-of-your-seat danger, some new creatures… but in the familiar setting of the Eiderveis River, as first introduced in Swords of the Six.

Question: Do you know someone who would like this book? (-:

Dragons as Heroes in fantasy?

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Dragons are predominantly the villains in fantasy fiction. But this does not have to be the case, especially if we write from a Christian worldview!

Abino, a dragon prophet from The Sword of the Dragon series

It is interesting to take this subject from the angle of seeing it from my worldview. As a Christian author I have often encountered readers whose faces get all twisted up when I tell them that some of the dragons in my stories are heroes. “How can dragons be the good guys?” I’ve been asked. Interestingly, if you write fantasy from a Christian worldview you have a most compelling reason to create heroic dragons. In the Bible the Devil was depicted as “that old serpent” and “the dragon” because it made an effective allegory to his character. But most readers forget that Jesus was called the “lion of Judah” and Satan is referred to as the lion who “roars about seeking whom he may devour.”

So is it the species that makes a creature figure a villain in Christian-based fantasy? No, the contrary is true. For the good and the evil are considered that way based on their choices. If they are intelligent in these fictional worlds, just like people are, then whether they are good or evil is based on who they serve. Worldview is a fascinating way to explore why fantasy worlds are developed in different ways. The Christian worldview as a basis for fantasy fiction can create some of the greatest storytelling.

Question: How do you see the author’s worldview impacting the fantasy and science fiction stories you have read?

Backstage Pass! New cover revealed for “Neverqueen”

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After the negative feedback I received on the original cover for Neverqueen, it was time to start from scratch. Give Neverqueen a look as classy and other-worldly as the covers for The Sword of the Dragon series. Ready for the full reveal?

Thanks to all of you who voted on the 99Designs poll to help me choose the final design. Your feedback was critical in helping me make the final decision. The next step is to get this version into print. For the time-being the other edition will be set as out-of-print until the new files can be uploaded to the distribution channels. In the meantime, I am planning the artwork for Neverqueen 2. It is my hope that this sequel will be ready for release in time for Christmas.

Question: Which of my upcoming releases are you most excited about? The Sword of the Dragon-book 4-In Search of Dragons, or Neverqueen 2: The Suffering Chalice?

 

 

What defibrillators have in common with a Writing Career

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A powerful jolt of electricity can get a dead engine running again. A defibrillator can make the human heart beat again. Everything needs a “jumpstarter” every now and then. My writing career took a few blows these last few years and sometimes it feels like I’m down for the count. But I’m not.

Urgo in Stargate SG-1

Remember that episode of SG-1 when Urgo is influencing the team’s decisions. “Try the paddles,” he says to Teal’c. So Teal’c grabs the defibrillator paddles and moves to use them before he is stopped. Really it was a funny episode!

My agent recently gave me the news that my publisher backed out of publishing the fourth book in my series The Sword of the Dragon. I can’t say this shocked me. I know that the publishing market has been struggling. But it still comes as a disappointment and I have to reassess some things. Before I get all of you worried, the rights for In Search of Dragons have reverted to me and I will be publishing it next year. Only difference is it will release from my company, Flaming Pen Press. Neverqueen sequels will also be released under FPP (more and exciting updates coming on this soon).

I have been eager to get back onto the road with book tours. I especially miss visiting middle schools. The interaction with fans was unparalleled and the excitement and interest it generated in my books was a constant source of strength and inspiration for my writing and my writing career.

On the upside I still have my literary agent. She has all the connections necessary to sell my manuscripts to publishers. On the downside working full-time in sales combined with family life leaves very little time to get my writing done. I have plenty of projects in-the-works, but I need to get them finished.

Take it from me there is nothing like pressing onward toward living your dream. I’ve lived it a couple of times. Right now I’m on sabbatical until I can work the kinks out so that I’m back out there nonstop writing, promoting, and selling. God will open the right doors as long as I keep working at it! (-:

Question: What discouragements have made you feel like ‘throwing in the towel’ on your dreams? 

Backstage Pass: The Author-Reader connection

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Recently I was informed that a young reader of mine who’d been struggling with cancer passed away. The moment I found that out really hit hard and reminded me of how precious life is, and how blessed I am to be able to bless some people in a small way. When I have had the opportunity to visit middle schools I have found the interaction with the kids to be unparalleled in inspiration and encouragement.

There is more to writing books than simply putting stories out there. Most writers don’t do it for the money (because it is sparse and hard to come by in this profession). Most do it for the love of telling the stories and sharing them with people who will care about those stories.

A best selling author once told me that he would not continue to write if no one was reading his stories. At the time I did not understand what he meant. I felt that no matter what happened I would always want to write stories, if only for the fun of it. But now that I have this personal connection to readers across the US and in even some in Canada and other countries, I understand what he meant. Writing has become a ministry of sorts. The stories I create have the ability to touch lives, encourage people, entertain them, and sometimes to pull their minds away from their own troubles.

That is the connection that an author has to their readers. And it often leads to a strong emotional link so that we care about one another.

Question: Do you feel personally connected to the authors you read?