A message from the author

Welcome Adventurers. What a summer I've published 2 books in one year, started this blog... So much has happened in such a small amount of time. I want to thank you all for joining me on this journey and I hope you'll stay around as I continue to bring you new book reviews, interviews, and all sorts of fun. If you want to support the progress of this site please consider becoming a patron on https://www.patreon.com/starwriter.  See you next week Adventurers

Character Chat: Kesia Ironfire (Lawless)

 Welcome Adventurers, to Character chat. In this new article I’ll be talking with characters from newly released and soon to be released books. Today’s guest is dragonshifter Kesia Ironfire from Lawless: The Ironfire Legacy (Book 1)

Welcome, so tell my adventurers about your world.

Well, there isn’t a lot to say right now, other than we dragons are at war with the human Scepters. It would be great to travel around and not be focused on spying on or destroying things. That would be really relaxing. The Cloudpeaks, where I was born, are beautiful in a sparse way. Dragons live far above the clouds in caverns. To be honest, sometimes I almost wish I would get captured by humans, so that I could at least explore something new. But that would be irresponsible, especially for my tactical partner, Zephryn Nightstalker. I need redemption from my crime for his sake as much as mine. He has a lot more to lose.

What are some of the places you’d recommend my adventurers see in your world?

Everything! I plan on seeing everything. All right, I’d really like to see everything, but I’m not sure it would happen. But, just for the fun of it: I’ve heard the Scepter of Commerce has three seas. I’ve never traveled by boat, so that would be adventurous. And Zephryn mentions going to the Scepter of Knowledge for their vast libraries. He’d probably get lost in them, knowing him! The Scepter of Pleasure sounds intriguing, just for the amusement of seeking enjoyment as a goal. It sounds refreshing. Although again, I don’t really deserve that, as a criminal. But I’d like to explore anyway.

Tell my adventurers about some of the technology in your world.

Voicelator pendants block dragon resonance. Without them, humans can tell a dragon disguised as a human because our voices are richer with tones and vibrations. I’ve heard some airship captains blame dragons in our half-shifted form (human form with dragon wings) for magically seducing them off their ships! Ridiculous. Humans make up stories about everything.

Airships are another piece of technology, although there is a war, so technically I’ve helped destroy them. It’s a shame. They really are very beautiful, even though they spew fumes from their turbines. In the past, airships actually used air balloons, but the humans got clever about that. They realized that dragons could blow up their air balloons, so they added turbines to their vessels. Clever, but smelly.

How would you describe your fellow characters?

Shance Windkeeper – he is very confusing and annoying much of the time. He is quite concerned with staring at me and calling me various human terms of endearment as if they mean something significant. However, there is something very distracting about him. I can’t quite figure it out. And he is fun to tease and question. He gets flustered and his face flushes. It makes me laugh.

Zephryn Nightstalker – he is everything—you have to understand, we are bound as fleetwings. It’s a practical situation during wartime, because then if one dies, the other dies. That way, we are invested in each other’s survival. It’s only logical. Zephryn’s actual identity is far above mine, even though he brushes it off. I could say he’s my closest friend, but I haven’t had any others. Dragons don’t befriend dragon criminals. Zephryn is essential. There, that’s a good word. He’s also fun to tease and debate with over our mental link.

Thank you for coming to talk with us, and can’t wait to read all about you.

Janeen Ippolito is two authors for the price of one! She creates writing resources and writes speculative fiction with monsters, misfits, and mushy stuff. She's also an experienced author coach, editor, teacher, and the Fearless Leader (president) of Uncommon Universes Press. In her spare time, she enjoys sword-fighting, reading, geeky TV, and brownie batter. A lifelong misfit, she believes different is beautiful and that everyone has the ability to tell their story. Two of her goals are eating fried tarantulas and traveling to Antarctica. This extroverted writer loves getting connected, so find her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and at her two websites: janeenippolito.com and writeinsideout.com

The Mapmaker's Daughter: A Review

Welcome Adventurers. Today I bring you a review of the book The Mapmaker's Daughter. This steampunk adventure starts in Ireland With Paddy O'Brian discovering his mother dead outside their house, apparently murdered. It then shifts to tell the story of a Japanese runaway with a strange power. She can draw land into existence. In a twist of fate these to different cultures collide when Akemi's ship crashes just off the coast of Ireland and she's saved by Paddy. Creative and touching this story is a wonderful work of steampunk fiction with a delightful mystery running through it. Adventurers I give this book 5 out of 5 gears.

Interview With an Author: Angie Grigaliunas

Welcome Adventurers! Today I have a special treat for you. I have guest blogger and fellow author Angie Grigaliunas.

~Tell my adventurers the name of your book and about the world you created.

Hi again! I’m back with Quelling, the second book of my dystopian/fantasy series. It picks up right where Sowing leaves off and follows sisters Ariliah and Rabreah as they struggle to make sense of what’s going on in their city. A quick overview of the world and its central conflict:

There are humans and itzalin (a humanoid creature-race with a brutal reputation). It’s more or less a medieval-tech setting. They use swords/knives/bows and arrows/spears/etc., horsescarts for transportation, and they don’t have electricity or running water. But most people can read and write, there isn’t the whole hierarchy present in the medieval time period, and it’s definitely its own world.

The Hulcondans, a human military regime (think Nazi-ish), pretty much hold complete power and rule with a mostly-iron fist. Even speaking against them is treason, and treason is punishable by death (typically public execution because that’s fun…). Some people view the Huls as the good guys, the protectors – which is primarily how they view themselves and how they present themselves to those who dare question them. Others view them as the enemies and dedicate themselves to fighting against the oppression and corruption the Huls unleash. Itzalin are either kept as slaves or are scattered about the world. There are also half-breeds, but they aren’t around much; the Huls capture them whenever they find them. It’s not a pleasant place (but oh so fun to write!).

In Sowing, we meet Ariliah and Rabreah – sisters on opposite sides of a brewing rebellion in their city. Quelling continues their story as Rabreah moves deeper into the rebellion side of things and Ariliah struggles to hold onto her fragile trust for the soldiers she’s always believed in.

~What inspired you to write about this character?

Since I talked about Rabreah last interview, it’s Ariliah’s turn now! Ariliah has been the single constant in this story/series. I started the story years ago (2003) and back then, it was just about one girl, not two, and that girl was the first inkling of Ariliah. She’s changed quite a bit over the years, but in some ways, she’s remained the same. Her enduring strength, her kindness…her story of redemption… The story has changed in a hundred different ways, but Ariliah has always been there and hasn’t changed much in terms of who she is. She’s like the center of the story, the thing that everything else has built on.

~How long has this character been in your thoughts?

First thought in 2003, but the real story started forming in late 2008. So quite a while!

~What is the one trait you wished you shared with your main character?

Ariliah is so kind. She’s naïve, but she’s also so sweet. She believes the best in everyone and is so trusting…and I may or may not destroy that at some point (muhaha), but her heart is soft. She makes me think of the quote that goes like, “Having a soft heart in a cruel world is strength, not weakness.” That’s so fitting for Ariliah.

The Quelling is available for pre-order on Amazon.com

Character Chat: Maxine Hadison (The Art of Facts)

Welcome Adventures to my new Thursday feature. Character Chat. Due to a scheduling mix-up (oops)  My first interview will be with one of my own characters. So without further ado, let's have a chat with Professor Maxine Hadison from my new book The Art of Facts.

 Welcome Adventures, to Character chat. In this new article I’ll be talking with characters from newly released and soon to be released books. Today’s guest is Professor Maxine Hadison from my book The Art of Facts

Welcome Professor, so tell my adventurers about your world.

“Thanks for having me here, and please call me Maxine. Professor sounds too formal. Well what can I say? I’m from Denver Colorado, born and raised in Five Points. I work at Hillside University in their museum of History as lead archaeologist and professor of modern archaeology. You know the future is not what I thought it’d be. I’m sad to see you don’t have the visuphones, Electro scooters, or lighter than air travel, why didn’t that stick?”

I’ll have to tell you about that one sometime, Maxine. It’s not a pretty story. So what are some of the places you’d recommend my adventurers see in your world?

“Let’s see if your adventurers are wanting a good time I’d say they should go hear Jasper and the Hotsparks Play at the Rossonian Lounge. It’s a great club with the most advanced automaton servers and the jazz music is great. Of course if they find themselves in Australia they could come help me on the dig site near Ayres Rock, we’ve made some amazing discoveries. Or you could go to the Sundown Club I have a friend there named Jackson Kyles. He’s Shiek as Valentino and such a talented Saxophonist.”

Do you have feelings for this Mr. Kyles?

“Of course not! I’m faithful to my fiancé, Calvin. though my sisters say two years is a little long to be engaged.”

Tell my adventurers about some of the technology in your world.

“Visuphones, aside from wireless radios and telegrams, are our main form of communication. We have them built into our automated secretaries and have monitors that rise from our desks. We have automatons that do a wide range of work, from waiters in fine clubs and restaurants to phone operators. I use all sorts of gadgets on my dig site. I have atmospheric readers for tunnel exploration, flying machines so I can get overhead views. and tiny devices that my ferret’s wear to explore spaces I can’t get into.

Very interesting.

How would you describe your fellow characters?

Oh they’re all different. Calvin is… he’s sweet, very caring. Though he’s out of town so often, always busy working with my father.

My sister, Ivy, is Head Researcher at the university. Always very level headed, but she has a mischievous side to her as well loves teasing our older sister Lorelei.

Oh Lorelei, now there’s a worrier if ever there was one. Constantly worried that my findings are going to cost us our jobs or something.

Jackson is my upstairs neighbor. Sweet guy and very talented.”

Thank you for coming to talk with us Maxine, it was so fun to talk with you.

“It was fun for me too.”


The Art of Facts can be found here on Amazon in both paperback and ebook

The Acolytes Education: A Reveiw

Welcome Adventurers. Well it's Monday and that means time for another review. Today I bring you The Acolytes Education by Mary C Findley. This story is a Christian re-imagining of the story of Little Red Riding Hood. What would you do if everything you'd been taught was a lie? This is something Russet has to face as she trains to become the next Benefactress after her grandmother. Her whole life she believed her grandmother was one of her villages protectors from a race of wolf people called The Ravagers. But when she discovers one day that The Ravagers are actually good and are captives of a spell Russet must decide where her loyalties lye. The Story was an interesting take on the old fairy tale, though I would not recommend this story for children (some of the topics are a little advanced.) On the whole the world building and story telling were good and I give this story a 4 out of 5 gears.

The Acolyte's Education is available on Amazon Kindle for .99 cents.

Dark Swim: A Review

Greetings Adventurers, today I bring you a short story called Dark Swim by G.S. Muse. The Story is about what happens when a boy in the 1920's South has a run in with the legendary monster the grendylow. Normally a spooky story like this is out of my wheelhouse, but the setting and descriptions and the dialogue held my attention all the way to the end. The author also managed to make a subject that could be dark and horrific (sorry if you like this) and make it palatable for a literary chicken like myself. I give this short story a 5 out of 5 gears.

Dark Swim will be available for free on Amazon.com tomorrow here