Guest author, Holly Evans

I met Holly on Twitter. She has a tendency to post adorable pictures of kittens, puppies, and other baby animals, which first attracted me to her. Then I became intrigued by her mention of her novels starring a gay tattoo magician. I had to check them out, so today, in addition, to my unusual author spotlight, I'm writing a review of the first novel in her Ink Born series, Stolen Ink.

Stolen Ink

I’m Dacian, a tattoo magician, and my life went from my biggest concern being finding a pretty guy to fall into bed with at the end of the week to everything falling apart around me. 

There are two problems in my life.

Number one – I’m an ink magician, the thing of myths. A lot of very powerful people would love to get their hands on me, and I have no intention of letting that happen. 

Number two – A tattoo thief came to my city, and the magical community has decided that I’m the guy to stop them. 

Somehow, I have to catch the thief without letting my secret out of the bag, and that’s even harder than it sounds.

Review

I absolutely loved this book. First, Holly has created a truly innovative world that drips with magic. It is urban fantasy in the sense it's set in a large city with contemporary level of technology, but it most certainly isn't our world.Tattoos pick their wearer, and the tattoo magician's job is to call them forth, not create them. The creatures can then leave their tattoos and become corporeal. Most people have magic of one kind or another and humans share their world with elves and other mystical creatures. It truly isn't like any other urban fantasy world that I've read (and I've read a lot of urban fantasy). More importantly to me, Holly has people her world with fantastic characters. Dacian is sexy, intelligent, and intriguing, but my favorite character is Kyra, his tattoo cat. I love cats to begin with, but Kyra is a feisty one who literally claws the eye out of the bad guy to protect her people. How can one not adore such a creature? The plot contains an appropriate amount of mystery, danger, and intrigue. After finishing it, I immediately pre-ordered Book II, Blood & Ink, and I believe you will, too. I highly recommend Holly Evans and her Ink World. 

Excerpt

I gestured to the tattooing chair. “Strip down to your pants. I’ll paint the design of the tattoo that’s trying to break free. Should you choose to accept it, then I’ll bring it forth and tattoo it. It will be painful. The more powerful the tattoo, the more pain you will endure. You will find its presence in the back of your mind once we’re done. As this is your first tattoo, I must add that, if you do not like the design, you cannot choose something else. Should you try and do so, you’ll be risking disfigurement or even death. Do you understand?”

He gave a short sharp nod before he carefully unbuttoned the black jacket and folded it, taking his time to ensure that the shirt was properly folded and crease free next to the tattooing chair. I could almost see the skin of his back shimmering where the tattoo fought to be free. It covered his entire back and wrapped around his ribs. Keirn would owe me a few drinks once I was done battling something of that size.

“Sit with your back to me, and I’ll paint on the design,” I said.

He nodded in acknowledgement and straddled the padded leather chair, his strong back facing me. Taking a deep breath, I opened myself up to the threads of tattoo magic. My own tattoos wriggled and clawed, trying to be free. I mentally growled at them to be quiet. There was work to be done. Kyra yowled at me. The cat had never been one to do as she was told. Aris, however, stilled, his form tightly coiled against my spine. The soothing warmth of the magic flooded my being and tugged my hands towards the brushes. My instincts took over, removing all superfluous thought. I was verging on nothing more than a vessel for the magic. It was a dangerous dance, but one I loved more than life itself.

             The tendrils of magic flexed and coursed down the brush. There was nothing but the painting. Everything else slipped away as I lost myself to the art, caressing the threads and edges of the creature that was buried within the man’s very existence. It didn’t need coaxing, it practically exploded through the colour. I stepped back and wiped sweat from my brow. My hand froze halfway down to my hip when I saw the art on his back. It was there in glorious colour, clear cut lines and heavy muscle. There was no denying it, no escaping the fact that he had a dragon desperately clawing at the fibres of his being.

Interview

1.                  Tell us a little about yourself?

I’m a passionate little red-headed woman originally from England, but I now live in Co. Kerry, Ireland. I’m only 5’2, but I make up for my lack of size with my huge personality and attitude. When I’m not writing Urban Fantasy, I usually reading it or wandering around the local area taking in the views and seeing what inspiration pops up.

I’m probably a little bit too interested in sharp pointy things, fae (particularly those with sharp pointy teeth), and fast cars. I plan on having a Dodge Challenger in the future – that deep growling v8, yum!

2.                  What are your biggest literary influences? Favorite authors and why?

I’m honestly not sure who my biggest influences are. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde definitely had an impact on my writing. I tend to explore that man and beast line and dynamic quite a bit. The Night Circus also had an impact; it really encouraged me to embrace my poetry side.

As for favourite authors I adore Seanan McGuire. Her clear love of mythology shines through in her books and makes for engaging, deep, and fascinating Urban Fantasy. Maggie Stiefvater’s books are poetic, sumptuous, and beautifully crafted with real emotion. S.M Reine’s worldbuilding is fantastic, and I adore Gail Carriger’s way of balance humour, action, and romance.

3.                  Do you think people have misconceptions about the speculative fiction? Why do you think it is a worthwhile genre?

I think there are a lot of assumptions thrown around that speculative fiction is nothing more than idle escapism. It isn’t worthy of those who wish to think.

It’s a worthwhile genre because of the scope! That step away from reality opens up the possibilities for exploration. We can explore the very fibres of humanity, psychology, through shifters. We can ask ourselves how society is put together and look at possibilities of the future through sci-fi. The potential to explore philosophy, psychology, sociology, and more is huge! No longer are we constrained about the hard and fast laws of reality; we can use the realms of our imagination to ask ‘what if?’

And yes, we can offer people the opportunity for escape. We can give people who feel trapped, lost, and worse, a place to have adventures and to explore who and what they are. We can provide safe spaces and spaces in which to think and be happy. Is it really so wrong to give people an escape from the grey drab of day to day life?

4.                  Could you tell us a bit about your most recent book?

Yes and no, lol. My most recent book is Blood & Ink, but as that’s book 2 in a series, I can talk about book 1, Stolen Ink.

Stolen Ink is an Urban Fantasy that follows Dacian, a gay tattoo magician. It’s set in a fantasy kitchen sink, meaning that there are lots of types of magic, magical creatures, etc. The entire cast is LGBT+ (primarily gay with some bi and an ace character).

Dacian wants a quiet life, but everyone around him has other plans. He’s not a typical hero, but he’s an absolute sweetheart.

5.                  Of all the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why?

Tyn. He isn’t in a published book, but I love him. He’s broken, he’s had a horrible start in life, but he has a heart of gold. He comes across as a bit of a jerk sometimes, but he’s my little kitten, and I adore him. He’s a Cait Sidhe (a fae cat), and he shows up in Blood & Ink.

6.                  Do you have a day job in addition to being a writer?  If so, what do you do during the day? 

I’m a developmental editor – I look at the big picture stuff, plot, character development etc. So when I’m not writing, I edit other people’s books for them. I might be a tad too passionate about books and writing…

7.                  Tell us a little about your plans for the future.  Do you have any other books in the works?

I have Blood & Ink currently up for pre-order, that goes live on May 5^th. I’m currently book 3 in the Ink Born series; Ink Bound will go live in early August. Then Seers Stone is book 1 in a new Urban Fantasy series, that’ll go live in early November. Seers Stone follows Kaitlyn, a treasure hunting alchemist, and her books are set in the same world as the Ink Born books. I’ll likely keep writing a bunch of series in the ink world for a good few years now. It’s huge; there’s so much to explore!

Where can we find you online? 

Blog: http://chaosfoxwriting.wordpress.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KhaosFoxe (Jamie's note: If you like adorable baby animals, you need to follow Holly.)

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Holly-Evans/e/B01ESEZALC

Stolen Ink: https://www.amazon.com/Stolen-Ink-Born-Book-ebook/dp/B01MTMZBKL

About the author:

Holly Evans is an urban fantasy author with an unhealthy fascination with blades, a deep love of hellhounds, and would love one day to wake up as a fae. When she isn't wrangling rogue characters and trying to tame her muse, she's researching shiny new ninja moves. During her spare time she fights crime and rights wrongs on the streets of Prague.

Guest Author, Amanda Labonté

Welcome my guest today, Amanda, a fantasy writer from the island of Newfoundland.

Amanda Labonté lives in St. John’s, Newfoundland, where she gets much of the inspiration for the characters and places about which she writes. As the co-owner of an educational business and mother of two she spends much of her day with kids of all ages. They give her some of the best reading recommendations.

Interview

1.                  Tell us a little about yourself?

I’m a writer and business owner living in St. John’s, Newfoundland on Canada’s far east coast. I have two awesome kids and a husband who also doubles as my beta reader. My first novel, Call of the Sea, is a YA fantasy which has recently been picked up by Engen Books as a series. In addition to writing, I also enjoy reading and reviewing books, avoiding house cleaning, and discovering new shows to binge watch on Netflix.

2.                  What made you want to become a writer?

I knew I wanted to become a writer from the time I was in eighth grade. I had a wonderful English teacher who thought I had potential and encouraged me to write. Even though I didn’t always get positive feedback on my creative writing, this early interaction really helped set me on a path to wanting to share my writing with others.

3.                  Tell us something about how you write? i.e. are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you have any weird or necessary writing habits or rituals?

Probably the weirdest thing I do is when I have really bad case of writers’ block or a plot point is really bugging me, I go take a shower. I know it sounds strange, but it can really help sort out my thoughts, especially when I am under a deadline.

4.                  Do you think people have misconceptions about the speculative fiction? Why do you think it is a worthwhile genre?

I think the misconceptions about speculative fiction come from within the writing community, rather than the reading community. Fans of speculative fiction are amongst the most dedicated and voracious readers. I love writing for this audience.

One of the main misconceptions about speculative fiction is that these writers don’t have to work as hard, since they are making up a new world or using magic as part of their plot. I would say that this might make speculative fiction more fun to write, but it doesn’t make it easier. Consistency is just as important, and just as problematic, in an alternate reality as it is in our own.

As for the value of speculative fiction, I think that’s most easily seen in how deeply readers feel about books written in genres like fantasy and science fiction. These stories resonate deeply with readers and have proven lasting power.  

5.                  What gives you inspiration for your book?

My inspiration for Call of the Sea came from my surroundings. Though the specific communities are fictional, the setting of the story is a very real place. The Cape Shore is a beautiful area with breathtaking sea views. It’s exactly the sort of place you’d expect to find fantastical beings.

6.                  What was the hardest part of writing your book?

By far, the hardest part of writing this book was balancing my time. My daughter was very young when I was trying to get the Call of the Sea manuscript ready to submit. Then, when I did manage to carve out some time, I had to fight the self-doubt that I think plagues all writers. Is this any good? What if no one ever reads it? I still have to fight the self-doubt demons, I think it’s something all writers have to deal with.

7.                  Tell us a little about your plans for the future.  Do you have any other books in the works?

I have been working on an e-book serial called Supernatural Causes. It’s a paranormal medical mystery about a university student who moonlights as an intern at a hospital for vampires, werewolves, and witches. Supernatural Causes will be released in four parts, which we’re calling ‘episodes’, starting in April, 2017. I am also working on Return to the Sea, the sequel to Call of the Sea, which will be made available April 2018 through Engen Books.

Where can we find you online? (please cut and paste links):

Website: https://engenbooks.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandalabontewrites/

Twitter: @amlabonte

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Amanda-Labont

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14572123.Amanda_Labont_

Call of the Sea

While twins Alex and Ben are at sea, they get into a fight, and Ben disappears suddenly from the boat without so much as a ripple in the water. Determined to find his brother, Alex begins the biggest adventure of his life, armed only with a mysterious musical talent and the help of a local girl named Meg. But his best hope for finding his brother might come from  the alluring and dangerous girl he finds amidst the frothing ocean waves.

Excerpt

Come to me, she called, she called.

Come to me my one, my only…

The melody played at the edges of his consciousness. The gentle sound of woodwind instruments with the occasional infusion of something deeper, a low, sonorous percussion. He floated along on the feeling of a familiar dream — until it became louder, more pronounced, overpowering his other senses.

Come to me my one, my only…

Alex sat up in bed, his heart racing, and looked toward the open window. This was not how he’d envisioned his first night home after being away for almost a month. Knowing exactly where the sound was coming from and what he had to do, he ducked out from under the lower bunk and fumbled in the dark for a T-shirt. He pulled the stretch cotton over his head while sneaking into the hallway, making as little noise as possible so as not to wake the household.

He paused halfway down the stairs as the wooden clock in the living room chimed the hour. One … two … three … four. Far too early to be up. Moving on, he used the light over the stove in the kitchen to find his sneakers and was almost to the back door when he heard Poppy muttering.

Doubling back to the first floor bedroom, he listened outside the door and thought about checking on him but decided against it. Poppy frequently woke in the middle of the night, but he didn't wander. Anyway, the music was getting louder, giving him a headache. He needed to get moving.

He left through the back, careful not to let the screen door swing shut. The predawn air was pleasantly warm, and the walk would have been almost welcome if Alex wasn't hearing a song to which everyone else remained deaf. He followed the driveway out onto the main road and down the hill that led to the beach path.

Oddly, as he got closer, the music became softer, as though some cosmic power had been shouting for his attention, and now that he'd answered, it was all right for it to whisper. By the time his feet slid onto the beach rocks, the melody had blended so subtly with the sound of the waves that he might have imagined it.

Except that if he turned back now, he knew it would start all over again.

The tide was out, revealing the narrow strip of sandy beach that was actually a piece of the ocean floor. It made a path to the horned rock, nicknamed for the horn-like appendages that protruded from the ocean side of the boulder. The novelty of the rock was that when the tide was in it was surrounded by water, but when the tide was out it was completely accessible. The trick was not to get caught when the tide changed.

He sank down on the strip of sand, facing the ocean, and felt the sense of relief that came with answering the music’s call. It was a clear night, and he could see the stars and the crescent moon. He took a deep, cleansing breath, tasting the salt air. The music had completely dissipated now, and it was easy to think that it had all been an illusion. Closing his eyes, he listened to the natural, rhythmic sound of the waves.

He’d missed the ocean while he’d been away.

Tell me what you think in the comments below.

Guest Author, Kev Heritage

Meet my guest today from far off England. I met Kev on Twitter. He writes science fiction and fantasy and has had trouble settling on a career. If you like what you read, please comment. Remember each comment enters you to win a signed copy of The Bull Riding Witch when it is released or a $25 Amazon gift card.

When Kev isn’t penning difficult, third person descriptions of himself for on and off-line publications, he mulls away the hours writing bestselling science fiction and fantasy novels, or watching telly, or going down the pub. Or doing the one-hundred or so other things he likes to do instead of actually writing.

Kev has worked as a driver's mate, factory gateman, barman, labourer, telesales operative, sales assistant, warehouseman, Student Union President, university IT helpdesk guy, British Rail signal software designer, premiership football website designer, mobile banking content team lead, gigging musician, graphic designer, stand-up comedian, sound engineer, improv artist, magazine editor and web journo. Although he doesn't like to talk about it.

He was born in the UK in the previous century. Originally from the picturesque county of Derbyshire, Kev now lives in the seaside town of Brighton. He is a Twitter aficionado, tea drinker and part-time stand-up comedian.

Interview

1.      Tell us something about how you write? i.e. are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you have any weird or necessary writing habits or rituals?

I’m a ‘pantster’! Although it’s not something I mention at parties due to all the strange looks.

My technique—a laughingly inaccurate term—is the mental equivalent of waking up with a vague feeling of wanting to go somewhere but without any clue of an actual destination, how I’m going to get there (if I’m going to get there), how long it will take or whom I’m going take with me on the way.

There’s lots of other metaphors. And they all sound the same. It’s the most frustrating process which relies on my mind making connections between seemingly random events, characters and plot points. Usually with a few deaths thrown in for good measure. Add the fact that I write supposedly ‘well-crafted mysteries’ and the process becomes a hell of my own making.

The actual process?

I come up with a mystery without knowing what the solution is. I have a few islands to aim for. I start with a bang, usually with some cool action and some other ideas about set-pieces – more cool action scenes—and off I go.

During this process, I’ll meet characters, and it’s them who shape everything. I name them using an alphabetic list using everyday names like Arthur, Bill, Dave, Ada, Bella, Claire. This stops me wasting time thinking of cool names that may not suit the character before I’ve discovered who they are.

The rest is seeing where I go and hoping that the mystery will reveal itself. Yes. I use hope!

For instance, writing my space murder mystery, Vatic (calling it a ‘murder mystery’ is a vast understatement), my hero was constantly frustrated by how nothing made any sense. But that wasn’t him! It was me, voicing my own perplexed frustration on the written page.

So why do I put myself through this?

It’s for those moments when I make the connections, when out of nowhere I find a unifying thread that brings everything in the mystery together. A kind of lying in the bath Eureka moment.

2.     Do you think people have misconceptions about the speculative fiction? Why do you think it is a worthwhile genre?

I suppose some people prefer the real world to be re-enforced in their reading. Maybe they want something safer and set within recognizable boundaries. I don’t like boundaries. Never did.

I read my first sci-fi at age twelve and—it was mind-blowing. A very personal experience. I was a closed-off child who found making friends difficult (nothing’s changed, haha). Sci-fi and fantasy was a wonderful escape from the real world that I couldn’t really get along with. For me, books were all I needed.

Anyone who reads my novels will immediately understand the concepts I’m working with. Lust, death, power etc. My puzzles happen to be in space—this is because out of all the many genres, science fiction is the most imaginative genre, and it gives scope to my expansive imagination.

3.     Could you tell us a bit about your most recent book?

It’s called Quick-Kill and the Galactic Secret Service.

And it’s not a mystery! Hurrah! Although there are some mystery elements that cropped up during writing, which are left unresolved—meaning that if the novella goes down well, there’s scope for sequels. And besides, I couldn’t help myself.

I wanted to write a bubble-gum sci-fi. Something a little cheesy. Something fast-paced, tongue in cheek. And a short. A little holiday away from another more serious project I’d been sweating over.

It turned into an assassin story starring the eponymous Quick-Kill Jane. Written in first-person present, Jane’s character arrived almost immediately. Her voice is the one that drives the novel. It was a real, sit down and let Jane do her stuff kind of thing—and she didn’t let me down. A real joy to write—and even I was shocked by the ending. That pantster vibe again.

The novel starts off on a backwater planet in the backend of nowhere, with Jane plying her trade as an assassin and enjoying every moment of it. But things don’t go the way she expected. Haha. Leading to a series of events that even Jane, with all her driven, borderline genius capabilities, cannot escape from.

Here’s a snippet…

Amsterdam City is ahead, silhouetted against the dark night sky and lit up like an electric red thistle. The lower gravity means that it boasts some of the tallest high-rises and skyscrapers in this forgotten solar system. But the money has long-gone, leaving decades ago to invest itself in the ‘next big thing’—which happened to be space habitats.

Amsterdam is Plenty’s first and only city, its buildings mimicking the red of the surrounding landscape. The conurbation was once considered a marvel. But now? It’s nothing more than a crumbling prison, home to thirty or so million people wishing they were someplace else. No towns, no resorts… nothing. Just a few outlying industrial farms and the spaceport. The locals—who I do not count myself a member of—call it the Forgotten City. And I can’t wait to put it out of my memory.

I enter via the ring road, taking the turnoff that brings me outside Angie’s apartment. At this time of night there’s little traffic. I cast my eyes up to Angie’s windows. The lights are off and alarm bells start ringing. She should be waiting for me, all dolled up and a meal prepared. A celebration. Tonight, of all nights, she’d be there with the lights on. And she ain’t the type to throw a surprise party. Besides, she’s like me when it comes to friends… she can’t see the point. That’s why we get on so well. That, and our disinclination towards men.

The foyer is an oasis of light on the dark street. Just inside I spot Joe, the robo-doorman. He’s seen better days. His once colourful costume is faded, as is his absurd top hat. I push open the doors and head for the elevator.

The metallic face inclines towards me. The eyes sunken and slightly sad. “Are you here to see Miss Angie?” he asks in servile bass tones.

I see the gun in his hand long before he can raise it against me.

I snap out my laser and play the beam over his face, which collapses in on itself. The cooked bio-circuitry smells like a pie in the oven. Which reminds me… I’m hungry. Whoever’s upstairs waiting for me hoped Joe would to do their work for them.

Mistake.

I flick the laser’s beam over the rest of Joe’s twitching artificial body. He collapses into nothing more than a few whirring, metal cogs and smoking servitor modules. I never did like the condescending bastard. Good riddance. If I had my way, I’d melt all these robotic half-breeds to glass and laugh while I did it.

My next action is easy. I get in the elevator and arrive on Angie’s floor a few seconds later. I step out, make my way to her apartment and knock. I shout, “Honey, I’m home!” and sidestep a hail of bullets that turn the door into plastic shreds.

I power up the laser again and play it at head-height across the wall. It punches through the extruded pseudo-cement like, well, like a high-powered industrial laser through a cheaply-manufactured living module. I look into the smoking ruins of the room. Angie is tied up in a chair, her hair singed from where the laser caught it. Good girl, she’ll survive. Shame about her apartment. I guess I won’t be eating anytime soon.

For my attacker, it’s another story. He lies on the floor, his head a burnt mess.

Nice.

4.     What is the biggest surprise that you experienced after becoming a writer?

For me it’s the writing itself. The ideas that emerge from writing. That I can create something from nothing just by tapping plastic. And (trying not to be self-reverential) I’m sometimes truly amazed at the finished product. At what I’ve achieved.

I suppose to put it a single statement… I’m surprised by the magic of it.

5.     Titles have always been extremely difficult for me. How do you come up with yours?

I have only one stipulation for a book title, and that there is no other book title like it out there. It must standalone in a Google/Amazon search.

Second to that is that there is no major product, band or brand that shares the same name.

Book titles either come fully formed like Vatic or Blue Into The Rip, or I agonize over them for weeks on end. Sometimes over-thinking—like I did with The IronScythe Sagas and ‘Quick-kill and the Galactic Secret Service’.

I must have had about ten different names for my latest novella. The story wrote itself, but the title didn’t. It all revolved around the name of my main character.

She started off as ‘Deadly Jane’ and became ‘Dead-Eye Jane’, Red-Eyed Jane’, ‘Can’t Kill Jane’. It went through a series of names to do with colours. What a pain. I even went onto an online random assassin name picker for fantasy games. Nightmare.

In the end, I found I liked the two ‘k’s in the centre of Quick-kill. That, and a relatively empty Google search for the same name, made me just give in and go with it.  It’s grown on me, although it jarred for a few days.

6.     What is your favorite writing tip or quote?

‘A writer writes’ – not sure who said that. Did anybody? I say it a lot to myself. I remember when I used to talk about writing rather than actually writing. But it’s a true adage. If we don’t write, we ain’t writers. I write for at least four hours every day. The hours increasing over time as I’ve slowly overcome the dreaded ‘procrastination’.

7.     Tell us a little about your plans for the future.  Do you have any other books in the works?

I’m presently writing Vatic 2 – not sure of the title yet. But it’s early days in the first draft but something will suggest itself. It will need to be a single word preferably with two syllables.

Vatic is already on his way to solve another messed up space mystery… Hoorah! Your favourite ‘Skilled’ is trapped on a berserk spaceship and in a mean, mean mood about it, so don’t get in his way!

My Sequel to Blue Into The Rip – Blue Into The Moon is presently at the ‘aaaaargh!’ stage. That’s just how I feel about it at the moment. But it’s near done.

So what does Blue get up to in part two? Well, he goes to the Moon for starters. There’s murder, a Tourney and an asteroid made out of sapphire. But the big thing is his first kiss! Yeah. It’s all happening to Blue in Phase two of cadet training.

In the next month or two, I have a story out in a Samuel Peralta anthology, Chronicle Worlds: Drifting isle. My first foray in steampunk. My story is of course a mystery! What else could it be? Very noirish. Called: Murder, Lies and No Goodbyes. No release date for this just yet. But I’ll let you all know. 

Where can we find you online?

Contact Kev

Please feel free to contact me on any of the following links. I will certainly find time to reply.

Website: http://kevheritage.com

Email: goforit@kevheritage.com

Twitter: @KevHeritage

Facebook - Mostly Kev Heritage: https://www.facebook.com/groups/mostlykevheritage

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/KevHeritage

Amazon: Amazon author page

Barnes & Noble: My B&N Books

If Kev's interested you, his book can be purchased below, and remember to comment.

Guest Author, Charles McDonald

Welcome my guest author today, Charles McDonald, who brings us the flavor of Robert Jordan.

Charles W. McDonald Jr. was born in Oklahoma City, raised in Norman, Oklahoma, and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a BBA in Management Information Systems and a Minor in Economics.  He also has a background in Aerospace Engineering and High Availability Systems Engineering.  Honorably discharged from the United States Air Force Reserves, he also has a background in the armed forces.  He lives with his wife, Brandy L. McDonald, in Roanoke, TX.

In the summer of 1995, Charles read every available book on the Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan in a couple of weeks and later that same July awoke in the middle of the night from an incredibly immersive dream.  Charles began writing, by hand, everything he could remember from that dream which became the outline for the story of A Throne of Souls.  Very shortly afterwards, Charles wrote Robert Jordan directly, looking for advice and inspiration for his own work, and Robert Jordan personally responded in a three-page letter, encouraging Charles to tell his story in his way, in his voice, and in his time.  The completion of A Throne of Souls is a deeply personal mission for Charles to thank the spirit of Robert Jordan.

Interview

1. Tell us a little about yourself?

I’m a very versatile, broadly-talented, pretty intense guy—very opinionated, organized and structured with a drive that is palpable.  No one ever had to coach or encourage me to go do something.  I’m a do-it-yourself doer and a perfectionist.  I can be a little tough to work with when it comes to writing because I expect the best from anyone affiliated with my work.  If it’s got my name on it, it has to be right and that means I expect the very best from them and I won’t settle for less.

2. What made you want to become a writer? 

I’ve had this story in my head that just won’t go away.  It’s like an itch that only gets scratched when I write.  I’ve heard writers don’t write because they want to.  They write because they need to—it’s just who they are inside.

3. What are your biggest literary influences? Favorite authors and why?  

Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, James Rollins, Tom Clancy.

4. If you could have written any other book by any other author, what would it be, and why? 

I’ll never take credit for anyone else’s work.  That’s just not my style.  Not even hypothetically.  My style is so radically different from others, it’s not really comparable.  People who read A Throne of Souls will see.  I’ve got multiple critic reviews that essentially say they’ve never read anything like it before both from a story perspective and a story-telling perspective.

5. Tell us something about how you write? i.e. are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you have any weird or necessary writing habits or rituals? 

A bit of both.  I’ll write stream-of-consciousness style, but only after making the plan and outline.  I have an eight-foot long whiteboard in my office I use all the time to illustrate the plot’s many layers.  It looks like a CSI crime investigation with arrows going all over the place. J

6. Do you think people have misconceptions about the speculative fiction? Why do you think it is a worthwhile genre? 

I do and rightfully so.  Most, but not all, have character development but the characters still don’t jump off the page as “Holy crap!  That felt real!”  People have told me that they felt as if they “rediscovered” what fantasy and what literature could be when they read A Kingdom Forgotten (Book 1 of A Throne of Souls).  They said it felt very real to them and they felt connected to the characters.

7. Could you tell us a bit about your most recent book? 

Well, A Kingdom Forgotten could be related to Episode 4 of Star Wars in that it throws you right into the action, kinda starting in the middle of the story, but at a critical point in the story.  This story isn’t told like others.  It’s completely nonlinear.  I don’t tell what happens in the past by flashbacks—generally speaking—although I think you’ll find two legitimate flashbacks in book 1.  I do it by narrating the past events as if they’re happening now and I’ll usually group them together in such a way that it makes sense to the reader.  For example, maybe we’re getting ready to cover a thread in the storyline’s present day, but before we do, I’ll give backstory and character development with an event from the past that relates to the thread you’re about to read or just read.  I’ll do something similar for near future timelines.  The best way to think of A Kingdom Forgotten is that it’s general theme is the what and the when.  Black Mirrors of the Soul (Book 2 coming in April) has a general them of who and why and is LOADED with character development.  It delivers a gut-level connection with the reader that will ‘scatter their emotions all over the room’ according to my proofreader.  It’s both terrifying and thrilling and it has a shocking conclusion.  One thing about my books is that they are hard to predict.  The plot is so layered and there’s just so much going on, it’s going to challenge your critical thinking.  These books are not a light read, but I guarantee you’ve never read anything like them before.

8. What gives you inspiration for your book? 

A dream I started with in July 1995.  Today, I’d say I feel the most inspired as I go walking.

9. Of all the characters you have created, which is your favorite and why? 

Well, that’s a multi-response question.  Damon I’m most familiar with, though least like as a person.  Illirian Starfire is always on my mind—I just can’t get her out of my head.  Michael Anthony Day is the one I aspired to be and the only altruistic character in my story.

10. What is the biggest surprise that you experienced after becoming a writer?  

That moment when people start talking about your books and your characters and how much they loved them, felt they were real, wanted to be like them, wanted to understand them, etc.  When you go into forums and see what people are saying about your story for the first time, it’s very surreal.

11. What was the hardest part of writing your book? 

The artwork!  SAWEEET JESUS—the artwork!  My books require a ton of it, and it’s not simple cartoon art or whatever.  It’s illustrative-realism-level quality art.  It takes about 6-8 months per book just to get the artwork across the finish line.  It only takes me about 12 weeks to write a 165,000-word novel.  Yeah, I can write kinda fast. J

12. What else would you like readers to know about you or your work?

 It’s not just fantasy.  It’s an all-encompassing cerebral thriller.  I’m going to paraphrase on of ‘anamcara’ who said, “Wow! The sample I've read...not even sure where to classify it! Fantasy? Check. Science Fiction? Check. Thriller? Check again. This story sounds so insanely deep, complex and intriguing that I can't wait to get my hands on it to read!”  It covers a lot of ground from Philosophy, Religion, Physics, Meta-Physics, Biology, Science/Technology/Engineering/Math (STEM), History, etc.  I mean you name it, this story covers a LOT of ground and you’re going to learn a lot and be highly entertained while doing so.  You’re also going to be both challenged and rewarded when you succeed in those challenges.  I drop so many clues all over the place and use disinformation as well, but when you figure something out, you’re like, ‘ah-hah!’  And that moment opens a whole new understanding of another layer in the story that now makes complete sense to you.

13. Titles have always been extremely difficult for me. How do you come up with yours? 

They just come easy to me based on the theme of the book.  I mean, you can see I’ve already named all five books in the series and I can almost guarantee you none of those future book names will change.  Why?  Because, it describes the biggest theme that book has a job to describe.

14. What is your favorite writing tip or quote? 

Write your ideas down immediately—as soon as they happen—or they’re gone.  That’s a fact.  You’d be surprised at how high a ratio of those writing ideas I actually put into the story.

15. Tell us a little about your plans for the future.  Do you have any other books in the works? 

I’m currently working on all the books in the series, A Throne of Souls:

Book 2 (Black Mirrors of the Soul) – April 2017

Book 3 (The Fall of Hate) – Dec 2017 at the earliest

Book 4 (The Rise of Hope) – Fall 2018

Book 5 (A Throne of Souls) – 2019 (You’d be surprised how much of this one is already done)

Where can we find you online? 

Blog: www.athroneofsouls.com/blog

Website: www.athroneofsouls.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/throneofsouls

Twitter: www.twitter.com/athroneofsouls    

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Charles-McDonald-Jr./e/B01MDPEUAW/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Excerpt

A Kingdom Forgotten (Book 1 of A Throne of Souls) – Chapter 12: Banthis:

“(Physical Cave Entrance to The World Below and Between, Kaleion, Recent History)

Dawn still a couple of hours away, they stood and talked, continuing their conversation from

inside—where they first met so many centuries before.  He was still in awe every time he met with her—her dark elven skin perfection incarnate.  She was quite literally the definition of a living Goddess.

Lithe, dark, and beyond beautiful Evanyil stood there basking in moonlight with her radiant platinum hair and unique violet eyes, batting them at the doer of all doer’s.  No one—not in all her lifetimes—could compare to Damon’s ability to get things done.  That made him the only possible candidate for this task—the only one she could trust to get the job done right the first time.  And with this task, there would be no second chances.  They would either all succeed and reap the benefits, or they would all suffer a fate far worse than any death that could possibly be imagined.

Damon stood there in his full mage regalia, letting Evanyil caress, or rather pet, the top of his hand as she peered into his black mirrors of the soul.  They were so amazing lit up the way they were in that cool smoky aura backlit by the moonlight.  He was an amazing specimen.  She did love him—truly so.  It wasn’t just physical love, or lust, between them.  It was love of trust, love of reliability, love of dependability, love of so very much history together, and the love of rescuing one another more times than either could count.  They had been a team from the very first moment they met.  They knew each other’s thoughts and could complete each other’s sentences, and they were just opposite enough to attract without driving each other insane.  Well, Evanyil would fit the definition of insanity already—with, or without, Damon.  Even that he loved about her.  She was just sane enough to be surprisingly lucid at times, and just crazy enough to come up with the most brilliant and unconventional thinking that frequently dovetailed perfectly with his order and structure.

The vines and dogwood masked the entrance entirely to the untrained eye, but they had been here so many times, they knew right where they were going—physically and otherwise.

“Sweetie, I’m not saying it has to be now-now.  I’m saying I know it takes time to plot something of this magnitude, and I’d like to start the planning now,” so unusual coming from her—the realization of planning something like this.  Evanyil was the act first, solve problems-on-the-fly personality.  But, if she, of all people, was realizing the need to plan something like this, then she truly did have an understanding of the consequences at play.

He was trying to keep his thoughts focused and ordered as she continued stroking his hand, leaning her perfect body into his as she blinked at him with those magnificent violet eyes of hers.  He knew he wasn’t being used—not really at least.  Was he?  It was the briefest of thoughts crossing across his consciousness as he replied, “Look, I’m just saying my biggest concern has always been about what happens after.  I mean, we’re going to bring enough to this fight, I’m pretty confident we’ll win.  The question is, in the massive power vacuum that follows, who gets what, when, how, where, and why are all extremely important questions that need to be asked and answered before the first spell is cast in this war we’re about to start.  There has to be a viable path to a lasting equilibrium.  That’s all I’m saying.  And forgive me for saying this, but you’re not the ‘share my toys’ type.”

Evanyil feigned insult pouting, but she knew where Damon was coming from.  He had a valid point—he always did.  “You’re suggesting a meeting between myself and your wifey.”

“I am.”

A huff of derision at the thought from Evanyil.  She didn’t hate Banthis.  They had largely stayed out of one another’s way all this time, but Banthis took Damon away from her.  It wasn’t a jealousy thing between Evanyil and Banthis.  More like, Damon and Evanyil were best friends, teammates, traveling companions till the end, and then one day Banthis came in and changed all that.  She detested the change that came with Banthis in Damon’s life more than she detested Banthis herself.  Evanyil knew she wasn’t the marrying type and neither was Damon and yet he’d done it—more than once already.  Their relationship had been violently hot, then cold, then hot, then unbearably distant, then ethereal, then…  The one constant between them was that they could count on one another, particularly when commitments were given.

He could see the wheels of chaos turning in the half-psychotic mind of hers, and thought better to interrupt her train of thought before someone got killed—or worse.  “Look, you two need to figure out who gets what when this goes down.  I’ve known you a lot longer than I’ve known her but don’t ask me to choose between you two.  That won’t be good for any of us.”

“And what if I am asking you to choose me?”

“Evanyil, please don’t.  Please.”

A batted eyelash, then a look down at the lush grass beneath them bathed in moonlight as her spiders stood sentry around them made Evanyil consider her options if it came down to it.  “I miss the old us.”

A broad smile from Damon—she loved his smile—caused Damon to reminisce.  Thoughts of their first meeting flooded his mind…then their first time together in combat…then all the years she spent with him at his manor.  They covered a lot of ground together—shared tremendous history.  Cupping her magnificent face, he kissed her—really kissed her—like their lives depended on it.  Was that because it did, he wondered.  “If this works, we’ll have all the freedom to be whoever we want, to forge, or reforge, whatever state of relationship we desire.  And, for the record, I miss the old us too.  You mean…,” he paused thinking as a lump formed in his throat, searching for the words, “…more to me than words can describe.  You’re my last real living link to the past—at least that part of my past I remember with fondness.  I adore you, Evanyil.  Please don’t ever change.”

It was a strange, and rare moment, seeing a tear streaking down the cheeks of a living Goddess, but she had what she wanted—for now at least.  She had Damon’s commitment to execute the plan that would set them both free.  Though, here with him tonight in this perfect moonlit night, she wanted more.  She wanted a future with Damon…without Banthis.”