Trapdoor Books

SFFworld regular and prolific book reviewer Seak has posted a review of The Ninth Avatar over at Only the Best Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Here’s an excerpt:

“…overall The Ninth Avatar delivers for me and I was compelled to dive back into the story every chance I had. I am really looking forward to seeing Newton’s progression after this debut novel.”

Read the full review here.

Recently, I was invited to guest post over at LiteraryEscapism.com, a popular Fantasy and Paranormal book review site. Here’s a taste of the post:

Writing as Communication

Oddly enough, authors aren’t always great at communication. We’re reclusive, eccentric, and generally a strange bunch of people. There are many possible explanations for this, but I prefer to think it’s because we just don’t communicate in the same manner that most people do. We communicate best through writing; allegory, simile, analogy, plot, and characterization are our methods.

Read the rest here, and leave a comment if you like.

The site is giving away a copy of The Ninth Avatar, as well!

Three Hardcover copies of The Ninth Avatar are now up for grabs on Goodreads.com!

Click here to enter

This contest will only last until July 18, 2010 so enter today!

Image from Logic + Emotion

A hero can originate from myriad circumstances. I wish to highlight two today, what I refer to as the falling hero and the rising hero.

First, the fall. As I mentioned yesterday, I’ve recently been exposed to the magic and wonder that is The Dresden Files by reading all 3 books in rapid succession. Harry Dresden is a fascinating character, looking either through the lens of his current actions or his past ones. Where he begins, at the start of Storm Front, is a place of relative success.

I’m pre-empting Chris on this post because I saw it on Twitter first thing this morning!

Trapdoor Books and The Griddle have collaborated on another fun and challenging puzzle. You don’t need to buy and read The Ninth Avatar to solve it, but why not? Click here for a printable version.