The Eye of Tanglewood Forest delayed...

I know many of you by now have gotten the email notifying you that the kindle release for The Eye of Tanglewood Forest has been delayed. Now, instead of being released March 1st, it will be March 31st.

First of all, I am sorry to those of you who had ordered it and are waiting for it. Hopefully the reason for its delay will make up for it though. It doesn't happen very often that late in the game I decide on a rewrite, but in the case of this book there was something that was bothering me a lot. I finally hit on a few parts that needed to be changed, and once I had the ideas for changing up the book, I got really excited. No spoilers of course, but I think the changes make for a more exciting read, and opened up a lot of really, really fun possibilities.

However, since I didn't figure out these new ideas until just this week, I was faced with a choice. Rush to get it all done in one week, or delay the release by a month to make sure it is done right. I went back and forth for a while, but ultimately I chose the latter option. I want to make sure that this book is as good as it can be. The changes don't involve rewriting the entire book from scratch, but it does require an overhaul of several parts. So far, I am very happy with how that process is coming along, and I hope you will also be pleased with it.

The last time I delayed a book it was because one of my sons had an accident and was badly burned and needed to go into the hospital (everything turned out all right, but it was a long recovery process), so it is definitely something I try to avoid, but in this case it just boiled down to quality, and I think the new chapters will be much, much better in the end.  🙂

LTUE is over... so now back to work!

Last week I spent a few days at Life the Universe and Everything in Provo, Utah and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. There were a lot of professional authors, editors, publishers, film makers, and others who shared their knowledge and experience with others. I spent most of my time behind a table, so I didn't get to sit in on everything I would have liked, but that allowed me to interact with quite a few really cool individuals. I met physicists, directors, aspiring authors, and even a former circus performer.

The only thing that I would have liked better would have been the Cosplay they have at Comic Con :) Only one person showed up with a costume to LTUE, and I think they felt a bit out of place. (But it was an awesome costume from Skyrim, where she had a silver cape she could hold out and a large, stuffed dragon on her head as if perched before a battle. I loved it!

I also got some of the best compliments I have ever received for my writing. One was a young teenager who picked up one of my books and began reading. Other people came and went from the table while he continued to flip the pages and stand silently reading. Then, after about fifteen minutes (or maybe ten, I'm bad with time) he slapped the book down and looked at me with a super straight face. No smile, no nothing. I figured he was going to let me know what he didn't like, but he did exactly the opposite. He said he loved the first chapter and was taking the book. After he purchased it and I signed it, he walked away with his nose stuck in the book.

It doesn't get much better than that for a writer. :)

Then there was a young girl. Her father had received one of my comics as part of a promotion on the first day of the convention. The second day he came up and said that his daughter had read the comic about 8 times and he had a hard time getting her to do anything else.

Those two things, plus others, certainly put a little extra vigor back into my creative mind once I got back to writing today. With a lot of effort, and a bit of luck, I am hoping to put out some of my best projects this year, and I am really excited about them. (I almost have a new cover to reveal for the Erik Lokton book I have been talking about.)

In the meantime, be sure to check out The Eye of Tanglewood Forest, book 3 in the Haymaker Adventure series which comes out March 1st.

First review for Flight of the Krilo

I woke up today and saw a nice 4 star review for Flight of the Krilo by The Genre Minx, and wanted to share it. It's always fun to see a good review that is both in-depth, but carefully avoids spoilers!

Click here to purchase Flight of the Krilo

 

Review copied from Amazon.

"I am a fan of Sam Ferguson’s writing style. Every character is unique and the world building is always so original. The words just flow and create a vivid story that interests you throughout the tale. This story takes place in a world that has several races all striving to conquer, kill, or survive.

There is a Native American feel for the Varvarr race. They are very connected to the planet and spirits of both their ancestors and natural elements. Where their ancestors were more nomadic the current tribe has been stationary for many decades. They are hunters but year after year there are less animals to be hunted. Their tribe once had a sacred duty but the previous chieftain had turned his back on the responsibility and now the current chieftain is being charged with correcting that mistake. For if they do not make amends their people will surely die.

The Krilo race are a race that descended from seven families that were chosen from the humans at the beginning of the Era of Kings. These families were given the gift of telepathy and became a race of their own. The religious order they follow is called the Way of the Wisdom. This Way was originally taught by an ancient dragon which dictates that all life is precious and that disciples could not lift a sword against others, even in defense of themselves. There are strict rules about what kind of food they can eat or how they can harvest it. These restrictions have led to them needing a symbiotic relationship in order to survive.

In addition, there are also dwarves, orcs, and ghouls. Who doesn’t love a story with orcs?? All these races are mostly in competition with each other as resources are dwindling and everyone is feeling the pressure. Now I say mostly because there is an alliance that has existed between the dwarves and the Krilo. The Krilo cannot defend themselves so they have an agreement in place with the dwarves that meets both of their needs.

These races are represented by various characters and it is through these characters that you get the true heart and soul of the challenges that they face. This is not a story without conflict. The Varvarr are out to destroy the Krilo but this vengeance will not come without a high price for all involved. This story is fast paced with plenty of action, character development, and depth. It is a story that will entertain, surprise, and draw you in."

 The Genre Minx reviews many books from various genres, so if you want to check out her page, please click here.

FanX and LTUE

Spring is in the air and events are piling up fast! I will be running an author table at FanX in SLC in March, which should be a ton of fun. I loved meeting a bunch of you at last year's Comic Con, and am so looking forward to this event. It's always fun just to connect with people who enjoy the same things.

Stan Lee is going to be making his last appearance too, so if you are a fan, you might want to drop by just for that. But there are also a ton of other people going so it should be a great event. (My wife already has a ticket to meet Weird Al.)

At FanX I am going to be running several drawings. The prizes will range from e-books, audio books, signed paperback books, all the way up to two grand prizes of Skyrim which is my favorite game of all time (at least, until they release ES 6 anyway...). So definitely stop by the booth to drop your name in for the drawings. No purchase will be necessary to enter, just sign up with your first name and a valid email address.

I might also be at LTUE in Provo next week, but we are still working on the details. I got a phone invite a bit late into the game, so I think it will work out, but it isn't 100% certain yet. I'll keep you updated. (If everything works out, then you can double-dip into the drawings I mentioned above by entering at this event too!)

At the moment I am working on the final tweaks for Eye of Tanglewood Forest and The Fur Trader 2, so keep your eyes peeled. Those are both out for pre-order now, but don't officially come out until March.

As promised, I am also working on a new Erik Lokton project. No release date for this one yet. I know a lot of you really enjoyed the Dragon's Champion series, so I want to make sure I deliver a great book with this new release. The cover is nearly done, so I might be able to do a cover reveal soon, which will probably give away a couple of things. For now, let's just say that Erik is leaving the Middle Kingdom, and is going to be encountering some new challenges that are going to push him like never before! I can't wait for this one. (Whoever is working on inventing those plugs from the Matrix, hurry up, I would LOVE to be able to download my stories onto paper directly from my head to speed things up!)

Also, for any of you who haven't read the Tomni'Tai Scroll yet, the kindle version is free today through Monday.

Click Here to Preview and Order

Accomplishments and Trials in Life

This past week was quite busy. Of course, I had the USPA 2017 Utah State Powerlifting Championship meet on Saturday. It was a ton of fun and I pushed myself to get a couple new personal records. (You can read about that and see videos here) I have also been putting some final touches on The Eye of Tanglewood Forest, and commissioning art for the World of Terramyr Wikia page as well as overseeing artwork for a couple new books coming out later on this year.

And... I got some test results back that diagnosed one of my sons with autism.

We tried to get my son tested before, back when we first relocated to the United States after resigning from the U.S. Department of State. At the time, the therapist was sure our son didn't have autism, but rather some anxiety and sensory issues. However, after working with anxiety and sensory overload issues for some time, we had him tested again, a bit more thoroughly and with a different doctor. This time the tests showed that he did, in fact, have autism. He is high-functioning, and therefore is able to do a lot of things that many people with autism can't, but that only makes it slightly less scary for me if I am honest.

The upside is there are a lot of resources in our area that can help. Support groups, autism units in schools, and even a full out school for kids with any kind of autism spectrum disorder. But, even with all of that, and the mountain of information the doctors and therapists gave us, I still am not too proud to admit that I spent a decent amount of time crying for my kid.

As a parent, you want to give your kids the best in life. I'm not talking about the latest iPhone, or the trendiest clothes, but about the best quality of life. It has been hard to see him struggle with simple conversations. It's been nearly impossible to explain why he behaves the way he does, or gets literally lost in his own imagination. On the one hand, it's almost nice to be able to name the cause of these and other issues, but frankly I had hoped they were all phases brought on by anxiety, as the first doctor had thought. It's easier now to explain to his primary teachers or school teachers what's going on, but now there are other questions that I can't see the answers to yet. There are fears and doubts that creep in at such times, nagging in the back of my mind and suggesting that perhaps this condition might restrict my son from enjoying the best life has to give. A successful marriage and family of his own. The pursuit of higher education and a career he is both passionate about and talented in. Basic interactions with others as an adult. Unlike my fantasy novels, I don't know how this story will develop, and I can't produce a magical device to save him from this trial.

I got the news last week, but it still makes me tear up a bit if I let myself dwell on the "bad" possibilities.

Of course, I also have a lot of hope as well. My son is unique. He is smart. He is caring. So, instead of shaping my idea of what the best life is, I get to reassess as time goes along and let him show me what the best life for him is. Aside from the fact that he is high functioning, he has a lot going for him. I have faith that as my wife and I do our best, things will work out the way they are supposed to. There is a scripture verse in the new testament (Philippians 4:13) that states "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." I know that I have seen that principle at work in my life. I suppose now I will learn anew what it means as I watch my son grow and develop.

I can't say now what lessons and blessings in life will come from this added trial, but I can say that each of my kids have already taught me so much. Ironic, I suppose, that they should teach me so much when I am the parent, but it's true.

Through them I have learned to be more kind, more patient, humble (especially when my 4th grader understands math that I still don't), and a host of other things. When my boys come into my gym, or watch me at a powerlifting meet, I try harder because I know they think the world of me and depend on me. I suspect I will learn much more from my son with autism. That is, after all, what life is about isn't it-- learning and developing into our best selves. That's why families are so important, especially in a world as chaotic as ours is.

If you have read this far... well, then "good on ya," as a dear friend of mine would say. This likely isn't the kind of post you expect from me, but writing is my outlet, and so this was the best way I knew how to express what I was feeling.

I'm still a bit apprehensive about what the future will ultimately bring for my son, I suppose I always will be, as any parent is concerned for the welfare of their children. I guess what I am getting at, is that we all have trials. Some are less expected than others. Some are more serious than others. Still, kind of like putting extra weight on a bar at the gym, if we meet these trials and put forth our best efforts, relying upon our God to give us the extra bit of encouragement and strength that we need, we'll come out all the stronger for it.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post.

Dragon Awards, SLC FanX and new box sets!

As I get ready to start writing for today, I wanted to spread the word about the Dragon Awards. These are great because they are people's choice awards. As fans, you can sign up and vote for your favorite Sci-fi and Fantasy books, movies, and games. Definitely be sure to check it out! This is only the second year these awards have been offered, and they are given out during Dragon Con, which I haven't gotten out to yet, but is definitely on my list of places/events to see in the near future.

You can see more info about the Dragon Awards here.

Also, speaking of conventions, I will be attending SLC FanX in March, so stay tuned for more details about that. I absolutely loved meeting people at Comic Con last year, and I look forward to chatting with you all again at upcoming events.

The other fun news I wanted to share with you is that my publisher has put out several kindle box sets. Overall, a boxed set tends to save a little bit of money as opposed to buying each book individually, which is always a plus. If you haven't completed one of these series, then definitely check these out, and if you have, then pass the word along to others who might enjoy a fun fantasy adventure!

Flight of the Krilo launches today!

  I am so excited about this one! It was a ton of fun to write, and was a bit different from some of the other stories I have written. Of course it takes place on Terramyr and a lot of the mythology is similar, but this one delves into the Varvarr people and introduces the Krilo. I sincerely hope you have as much fun reading it as I did writing it.

  It's coming in hot at #14 on Amazon's Myths and Legends Hot releases category and has earned a great ranking in other categories as well. Click here or on the link below to read the preview and order your copy.

Click here to order your copy today!

Terramyr Chronology

So, I have gotten a few requests on my Facebook site and from others for a chronological list of my books. In the past, I have been a little reluctant to do this because primarily because while I do enjoy creating easter eggs and planting cross-overs or downright connecting different books, I don't want anyone to feel tied down to a specific order for reading the books.

Obviously with the sets and trilogies, like The Dragon's Champion, The Sorceress of Aspenwood, or the Netherworld Gate, you should go in order starting with the first of each respective series. But in terms of which series to start with, or which stand alone novel to read first... just look at the descriptions and see which story you want to read first. I want you to have fun, so when it comes to people asking me where to start, I always ask if they like more or less magic in the book. Then, I might narrow it from there and ask whether they would prefer a snowy mountain setting, or an exotic adventure upon the Elven Isles. Just like there is no wrong way to eat a Reese's, you can't go wrong by starting with a book that intrigues you, regardless of where it falls in Terramyr's timeline. Okay?

All right, so now that I am off my little soap box...

Here is a bit about the wider picture for Terramyr. I am working with some others on a Wikia page, which when I am done should have a nice timeline on it. Hopefully some good artwork as well... but that all takes time. So, for those of you who want the big picture NOW, here you go!

Terramyr is a world which is part of a grand fantasy universe.(Kendualdern is a related world, and plays a significant role in Terramyr's history thanks to the Seven Ancients...) The world of Terramyr is rich in stories of adventure and magic, where struggles of the small and mighty alike are worthy of being told. Each story reflects a different point in time where the course of Terramyr’s history is affected; all paths leading to a moment when the life of Terramyr will be weighed in the cosmic balance.

It could be said that Terramyr is a palimpsest of fantastic history and magic, where different ages of gods and mortals have given rise to heroes and villains of all sorts, from each corner of the world.

The life of Terramyr is measured in five major eras of time, each a testament to the strength of will of mortals and those who would seek to become gods. Covering over 12,000 years of Terramyr’s history the struggles of each race, from orcs to demigods, from elves to gnomes, are what I endeavor to showcase in my novels and stories.

As for the world's history, the books so far have touched on very small portions. If I had a full rendering of Terramyr's map, you would see that there is also a vast array of different places and cultures to explore. Some of the projects already underway will invite you to take a walk in the wild jungles of Prirodha, explore the verdant seacoast of the Elven Isles, climb the snowy peaks of the Dryden Range, delve the mighty caverns of the Dwarves of Roegudok Hall, discover the hidden treasures of the merpeople of the Ilion Ocean, and to share the adventures which take place in many more beautiful, exciting locations across the world of Terramyr.

While each series or stand-alone book which is part of the World of Terramyr can be enjoyed on its own, the more you explore, the more you will find easter eggs, learn about the mythology and history of the world, and the more you may come to discover the extent of the powers interested in guiding Terramyr to its final end.

You can enjoy the stories in any order you choose, but for readers who are interested in knowing where in the chronology of Terramyr a given story falls, here is a chronological list of the stories (those currently available, and some yet to come) that take place on the World of Terramyr.

Pre–history and Creation Era	The Dragons of Kendualdern series The Dragons of Kendualdern: Dominion (Coming Soon The Dragons of Kendualdern: Hunted (Coming Soon) The Dragons of Kendualdern: Rebellion (Coming Soon) The Dragons of Kendualdern: Annihilation (Coming Soon) The World Seed (Coming Soon)
Ancient Era (1,000 years)
Dark Ages aka The Era of Kings (3,500 years)	Flight of the Krilo (Year 365)
Age of Demigods (5,000 years)	The Haymaker Adventures  (Year 3,500) The Sorceress of Aspenwood Series  (Years 3,676 – 3,677) The Dragon’s Champion Series (Years 3,709 – 3,711) The Netherworld Gate Series (Year 3,710) Winter’s Ghost (Year 3,710) The Wealth of Kings (Year 3,711) The Crystal Spire (Year 3,715) (Coming Soon) The Fur Trader (Year 3,720)
Common Era (1,700 years)
Enlightened Era aka Age of Wonders (1,000 years…?)

Advice for aspiring writers... Read, Write, and Dream

At Comic Con last year I had a few aspiring writers ask me for advice. Of course, my first thought was, I dunno- go ask a big author like Terry Brooks or Brandon Sanderson. I'm just a little guy.

However, I realized in the next instant that I did have an answer.

Read, write, and dream. (Not always in that order...)



Read
Reading should be a given. It will enhance your techniques as you study not only the plot elements of a good story, but also the mechanical skills different writers employ. As you read with a writer's eye, you will have little "ah-ha!" moments where you see a skill you have been lacking, but can develop to improve your writing.



As a minor example. I first read Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind while I was in my first year of college. I found that within that 1,000 page book, Goodkind did something that not all authors are great at (though most certainly try to some extent). Whatever he introduces in the story, whether on page twenty or two hundred and twenty, ends up playing a role later on. His foreshadowing technique was superb. He could inform you about something without taking you out of the story or having the passage feel clunky, and then deliver on that foreshadow as many as seven hundred pages later and still have it create a good impact. Even if he only introduced the idea, character, or event with a single sentence, it always worked. Furthermore, there were no "dead" foreshadowing moments. Meaning everything that was foreshadowed, actually developed into something more. A lot of authors will foreshadow ten things, but then only deliver on seven.

Write
Writing is the most important part. You have to actually sit down and write. Some people have a goal of writing 1,000 words a day. I find as with other things, these goals can and should be increased in accordance with your skill. For example, when you first walk into a gym, you might only lift the bar without extra weight. But you certainly don't want to stay at that level forever. You increase your goals. 1,000 words a day was a great goal while I had another full-time job. It was something I could almost always hit on my lunch hour. Now, however, I can drop around 2,200 words an hour, consistently over the course of a day. Always stretch yourself.

A good way to improve this skill set is to time your work. Whether you are a "plotter" who uses up 300 3x5 cards before writing your first word, or a "pantser" who jumps into the story without even knowing where you want to be in chapter 2- time yourself. I write in word because I can easily calculate totla words and total time spent on the project. This gives me not only a daily progress report, but shows me how consistent I am over time. 

As an example of flexing your writing muscles- The Dragon's Champion took me a total of 117 hours to write, including rewrites and completing edits from my editor. I averaged less than 1,000 words an hour. Then I look at book 6 in that series, and even though it is almost 10,000 words longer, I completed that novel in 54 hours. Part of that is how familiar I was with the characters by then, of course, but a huge part was timing myself. I found that I not only increased my writing speed as I practiced, but timing my work periods also meant I spent less time on distractions like social media.

Dream
Dreaming is very important for a fiction writer. Without dreams and questions of what if- then what will we ever be able to produce? Take time to daydream, to make up your own endings to books, movies, video games, etc. Don't lose the 12 year old version of you that used to stare out the window and fight in epic battles while the teacher was blathering on about some subject you weren't passionate about. You should still look out the window and dream -- it's just a balancing act of finding the appropriate time to do it as you age ;) 

Now obviously I am not Terry Brooks or Brandon Sanderson. So, odds are they will have even better advice for aspiring writers, but if I had to hit three top things, this is what I would talk about. 

The Fur Trader 2

 I have been getting some questions about the Fur Trader sequel over the past couple of months. Well, I am happy to report that not only am I revealing the cover to you right now, but we have an official publication date as well.

The Fur Trader 2 comes out on March 31, 2017.

Check out the link below to pre-order your kindle copy!

Click here to pre-order your copy!

The Fur Trader 2

Trudging through the snow and other dangers high up in the Dryden Mountain Range, Garrin and the others are closing in on Geberron Pass.

However, as the trio pushes forward, Garrin understands that William’s secret is far more serious than he ever could have imagined. There is no turning back now, for that would mean certain death for all three of them. Garrin must dig deep and employ his full range of skills to ensure the safety of the group, and get them through Geberron Pass before those who hunt them can overpower them.