Dragonmas has come to Dragon Hearts

The world of Dragon Hearts crosses over with the world of the Dragon Shaman books as well as the Selkies' Skins books. References are hidden in my books for those knowing what to look for. Thus it seems appropriate to post this here as I am the quest and event writer (though not the coder) for the site.

Dragonmas has hit DH. Dragonclaws, our dear Saint Nicoclaws needs some help up at the North Pole. Fetu is screwing up the balance though! Who will win the battle for Dragonmas? This may or may not result in new lore for future years on the site. Can you afford not to help in the battle? Prizes go out after the end of the event.

Current score as of Ame's last logout: 

Fetu: 479 VS Dragonclaws: 856

www.dragonheartsrpg.com

Book Review: Thomas Templeton and the Whispers at Branson Manor

Lightning the Cat needs some help.

Life has not been easy the past several days, and it has been hard enough to take care of everything.

Ame Reads: Forest Fire

Book Review: The Man Who Could Be King

Book Review

Title: The Man Who Could Be King

Author: John Ripin Miller

Where to get: https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Could-Be-King-ebook/dp/B01N9KHCUF

Star Rating: 5

Age Rating (IMO): All ages

In school we heard about what George Washington did. Every year US History covered him and the other Founding Fathers, in more detail as our years went by. However we were never told about Newburgh and what he didn’t do, which is a real shame as after reading this book I think it should be covered in school. It would give more depth to the class. I can remember sometimes my classmates and I wondered why he didn’t just take over.

This is a book everyone should read. I find it to be a very well done historical novel.

Written from the perspective of Josiah, who is an amalgamation of the 32 aides that he had during the Revolutionary War, we go through the war with the pair. We experience the highs and the lows, the soldiers with no shoes or adequate clothing, and the shipments of spoiled meat. And yet, when the touchiest possible mutiny in the military ranks threatens the war effort General Washington does not answer the temptation to pursue a military takeover of Congress to install himself as head of the nation. He calms and turns aside the mutiny.

I also really appreciated the appendices and notes after the main body of the book. The level of research was extremely deep and I am enthralled by the supporting information.

Battle for Net Neutrality

Do you like being able to access the internet without having to pay extra for your news? Do you like being able to be uncensored in what you view? Are you in the U.S.? These may be at risk. What the FCC is currently trying to do may impact your freedom of speech and the freedom of press.

Find out more here: https://www.battleforthenet.com/july12/?org=dp
You can send off a letter. After it gives you an option to call in.

Book Review: Designs On Her

More net neutrality things

Net Neutrality. It's quite the loaded topic in some circles. Some people want to cut off the internet totally to some areas (Trump). Others want to make it metered, whether you are on a wired or wireless connection. Others want to filter what content is available to people.

There are books that get banned from libraries (1984, Farenheit 451, To Kill a Mocking Bird). Theoretically what is being proposed now could impact author's jobs, and YOUR freedom of speech and freedom of press.

Where I live, beyond the cable line and where I can only get Hughesnet Satellite because there is literally no line of site from other providers I know what it is like to be throttled and to have to pay extra. For now I am at least guaranteed the ability to browse the internet and email when my son's gaming and Youtubing has sucked up all of our data. It makes it a bit harder to work for my webtesting client, as during those periods work takes longer because of how much longer it takes pages to load. I have to pay $9 per 3 gb of extra data, which does not last long at all in my household.

Now imagine that things everywhere became pay as you go. Imagine that some sites you would have to pay ADDITIONAL for to access. Imagine paying that on top of your news site subscription. This could happen if people do not stay aware.

Internet now is a utility. Jobs send you online to fill out applications to work. Schools and colleges send you online to turn in work and do your research. Their libraries aren't always open when you are off of work to do your homework and research your papers. Banking is sliding more and more online now. As an example of that, there is now only one open branch of my bank in my county, and if you are far away the only options to deposit your check or cash are via internet connected phone (checks) or the one other ATM.

Imagine a world where you can't afford to do that job application because you're unemployed and there is no where near you that is able to provide that internet access. Imagine going to your news site and having an additional fee. Imagine clicking like on something and suddenly the next day you are having to pay more, simply because you got involved in a discussion about politics. We could slide down the slippery slope all the way to North Korea and Old China. We could let fear rule us.

Or, we could stand up and demand net neutrality, and accept what comes with not being sheeple, accept the irritations and lessons and freedom of being able to discuss religion, politics, read books, and all of the wonderful things available to us. Don't take my word for what could happen. Go out and read what they are trying to push through.

July 12 is a day of action. I will let you look at a site. After looking, please, please, please go find for yourselves the texts that are before our Senators and Representatives (who are NOT our leaders, read that Constitution too!).

Press Release: Astral Sector Alpha Art Fair June 25-July 3

I forgot to post this here on its own, although I remembered to submit it to Bixyl Shuftan (as Amehana Ishtari, my Second Life legacy name) for the SL Newser.

Press Release: Astral Sector Alpha Art Fair June 25-July 3

Astral Sector Alpha is holding an art fair June 25th to July 3rd.

Astral Sector Alpha, also known as ASA or the Astrids, is a community of artists of different stripes that originated in Second Life, although not all of the members are within Second Life. They also have a Discord presence and do live readings every other Saturday over Discord (as not everyone can successfully use SL voice reliably) starting at 6 PM SLT and gather in world for camaraderie during the reads. ASA's goal is to nurture each other's creativity and to provide a good grounding for artists, writers, and other creators to grow within and draw encouragement from. Members are encouraged to start their own projects.

ASA has worked with several small libraries in the past to provide reading exchanges and art/writing contests, including with the Trotsdale library. Amehana Ishtari's past writing workshops and a Haiku anthology between cooperating Second Life libraries, available for free on Smashwords at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/542449 are examples of the sort of projects that members launch.

Art of several types is on display at the current art fair, things represented are visual art in the form of drawings and photograpy, jewelery, images created in blender, textual offering to be read either by the author or by volunteers, and "glitch photography" which is a new art form developed by Danielderv Resident, which has even had an article published about it in a university level publication. The building itself was created for the art fair.

For inworld readings of the content in the fair, readings will happen from the 30th to the 3rd at 5 PM SLT to ensure that all that was submitted has a chance to be shared.

This art fair is also intended to kick off a weekly magazine format. For more details about that particular endeavor talk to Danielderv Resident.

Calm Ocean (69, 196, 3821)

Illustration Share: Queen of Glass

It was time to do a fully human figure again. May I present the Queen of Glass. I don't have a story for her or a set character as of yet, but at some point I might. I did this merely as an excuse to work with the human form again, even though humans are not my favorite.

This is sized down from the original so that it will upload on my internet connection to my DeviantArt gallery. The inspirations for this are Grinmir-Stock's "Sigrid 14" and a simplified version of the stained glass inspired dresses sewn by Creel in "Dragon Slippers" by Jessica Day George. This is not a character from Ms. George's works, just something that I wanted to draw as it was time to practice humans again. The Queen of Glass currently hides her bench, but I imagine it as having stained glass insets.

I especially enjoyed the fur trimmed cloak for some reason.

Executed on 9 x 12 inch 80 weight paper with mechanical and color pencils.

Interview of Jen Selinsky

I recently was interviewed by Jen Selinsky for her blog. Knowing that she was an author as well I asked her to share about herself, answering the same questions that she asked me. If you'd like to read her interview of me on her blog then please feel free to follow this link. It will open up in a new window.

Shall we get to Jen's interview?

Interview of Jen Selinsky

How old were you when you knew you wanted to be a writer?

I think I had a feeling as young as age twelve, but I didn’t take my writing seriously until I was fifteen.  From there, my passion grew, and it continues to grow as I set out to achieve my dream.

Who are your favorite authors? (Please limit your answer to five or ten.)

Some of my favorite authors are: Stephen King, Victor Hugo, Janet Evanovich, Sylvia Plath, Jim Morrison, Emily Dickinson, James Patterson, and Mark Twain.  Of course, it’s hard to limit myself to only five or ten.

What are your greatest sources of inspiration?

One of my biggest sources of inspiration is music.  Even though I am very picky about my tunes, I have written various pieces while listening to some of my favorites over the years: Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, The Doors, Duran Duran, Deep Purple, and Genesis just to name a few!  Of course, that list goes on as well!

What genre(s) do you write?

I started out writing poetry, but I have expanded to include many different genres.  I have even self-published two coloring books which I drew myself.  I am also working on a third one.

 Do you have any current or future projects?

I have too many to name!  The one I just mentioned is my third coloring book.  I also have three cookbooks in the works, as well as a few novels, short stories, and many more poems.

Do you have an author website?

My author website is Jen Selinsky, which is my official site. It includes links to all my books, as well as direct URLs to some of my interviews and other published works.

Do you have any blogs?

I have this blog, which is one thing I am very glad to have started.  I also have one on my Goodreads page, as well as two other WordPress blogs, Jen’s Good Reads and Genesis: Inside and Out.

Where can people find your work?  (to purchase or just to read)

People can search my name to find my work on the following sites:

Lulu

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

iTunes

Smashwords

Pen It! Publications

If you could just feature one title, what would it be? 

I would like to feature Bunny’s Song because it is my first traditionally published title.  People can purchase it through Amazon or Pen It! Publications. It’s a great book, especially for children.

Do you have any pseudonyms?

Nope, I like to use my real name whenever possible.

Do you have any other hobbies besides writing?

I like to exercise, draw, paint, listen to music, play video games, and spend time with my family and friends.

Tell us something interesting about yourself.

I’m related to the late stage and film actor, Robert Prosky, on my father’s side.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I’m glad that I have started this blog.  My main aim is to help authors discover each other while drawing others to view their work.  I also want to thank each and every one of you for helping me achieve this!

Big Candle sale and a supplier swap

Regarding JIC Nation

THG StarDragon Illuminations (the candles and things added through JIC Nation AKA Jewelry In Candles) will soon be transferring to JewelScents and Gemstra. Once my sales account with them is set up I will redirect WWW.THGStarDragonIlluminations.com to that store for ease of finding things. For now until the 30th it stays pointing at my JIC rep store. I was not given very much notice that JIC is closing.

Take advantage of the 50% off now while you can. Everything needs to go. I will have what physical candle and tarts stock from the candles until I either buy them from myself to keep, or if someone wishes to buy them at the Logger Fiesta in late July.

For anyone that was interested in the weight loss coffee, THAT is one of the items that I know will be moving over to Gemstra as a partner. If you hadn't gotten the opportunity to try that stuff yet, this is a good time to.

Regarding THG StarDragon Publishing

This speed bump should not harm my publishing company in any way. The candles and coffee were intended as a branch anyway, and having sold as a rep meant that I personally was responsible although I was also keeping things clear as to the association by carrying over the brand name with my chosen supplier. I am still available for editing, proof reading, website proofing/testing, illustration, narration, retyping, and being a publisher for those interested in being published by THG StarDragon Publishing. Bookmarks for now will remain available only in person, although I do intend to later have them up in Etsy or another storefront possibility I have heard about. WWW.THGSstarDragon.com carries on with Rowan Wookey being my ever gracious web developer.

Some old art for "The Shadow Chronicles"

While looking for images to represent the three series that the Hounds world building essay is for I came across this image of Angelina (whose Cowan name is Willow Sanchez) that was done for use with "The Shadow Chronicles" by The Ingram for Solstice of 1999. Here Angelina is crowned as Great Shadow, having been awakened to being the reincarnation of the founder of an order in a whole other world than her own and manifestation of the Creator Goddess of that world. This is a very long way from the Cowan Willow Sanchez, who could never figure out why her father became so jumpy whenever magic was brought up and was raised in a normal US home, going to a normal backwoods public school, and brought to the knowledge that magic was real by visits from Singing Serpent, white dragon of Mount Shasta and her past incarnation's advisor Flightessa, a two legged sphinx.

This and images for "Dragon Shaman" and "Selkies' Skins" will be incorporated into the in Second Life image for my essay, to provide the link from the Astral Sector Alpha Art Fair in the quarter sim plot in Calm Ocean.

I will provide a slurl link for the art fair once I have the landmark for the location.

Later I am going to find time to archive some old scans of old drafts of the first novel for "The Shadow Chronicles" for those in my Patreon. I believe those old works will stay Patron Only.

Book Review: Naked

Book Review

Title: Naked

Author: Alexandra Christian

Where to get: https://www.amazon.com/Naked-Phoenix-Rising-Book-1-ebook/dp/B071CRSKV2

Star Rating: 5

Age Rating (IMO): Rated Rrrrr

Fair warning, Naked is an erotica. One would hope that one would deduce it to probably be an R rating just from the title itself. It is more than an erotica though. It is also adventure, spy, mystery, romance, and scifi. Our story takes place in a future, perhaps a not so distant one. We are also given explanation about some past disasters.

In this book we have shifters, some are were animals, some are dragon, and there are vampires. It reminded me in some ways of a story that one of my friends wrote as there was a creature called an “ultra” and she had once talked with me about ultras long before this particular book came in front of me. I can only assume that the ultras are also a shared thing in the shifter subgenre books, so now I am simply going to have to look for more shifter stories to find out if my thoughts are correct.

There is also a little bit of magic, but it is not gone into in detail as to how the ONE person that is encountered can do magic actually gets down to it. I would have liked to know more about that character due to my interest in magic.

I enjoyed the conspiracy theory in this and having to figure out who may or may not have been a double or perhaps triple agent. I enjoyed the genetic aspect to the shifting and how the characters grew. Since it was an erotic book I expected from the beginning that the lead man and woman would fall in love, or at least lust. I was glad to see them as complex characters though and not cookie cutter, which is all too easy to do. Derek Machine to me felt a little flat though, but it is super hard to make a good 3D villain. I wanted to know what made him so crazy, what drove him to such greed and disrespect. Was he simply a psychopathic narcissist or had something happened in his past?

I also have to point out that I greatly liked that Phoebe became a phoenix. I did have to groan though as I know someone that often gets called Phoebe, helps in a virtual library reading aloud, and has a rather fiery avatar in Second Life. I couldn’t help the chuckles. I very much doubt that Phoebe in the book had anything to do with this person, but I’m forever going to giggle about the coincidence.

It was a good book, I definitely enjoyed it, and I will be very likely to look for more. This book leaves an opening for another, so I am indeed curious about what happens with Cage and Phoebe next.

Ame Reads: Patreon Poetry May 2017

Guest readers and guest posts are welcome. If you have a reading you would like shared on this blog or posted to the Youtube channel please email me the details and we can arrange it. The same goes on if you have content you would like shared on the publishing blog, such as book launch blogs. You will need to forward the content to me and the name you wish it released under, and it will be posted with a byline, similar to how the SLNewser runs their blog.

World Building: The Hounds, On Patreon for Patrons

I recently finished gathering together all of my thoughts on the Hounds of Hearne, werewolves in general, and the other Hounds in the shared world of Selkies' Skins, Dragon Shaman, and The Shadow Chronicles. Some of this will later be made public, but not all of it. I do want to keep some things as insider bits for patrons, at least until all of the series are complete to my satisfaction.




This essay HAS been submitted to Astral Sector Alpha's multi discipline Art Expo as an example of world building behind the scenes work. It may be read live by myself or a volunteer at the reading portion, but I need to find out again what day and time that will be. Astral Sector Alpha currently resides in Calm Ocean, in a plot with looks rather similar in my opinion to how Seal Point looked at one point in it's history. I have absolutely no idea if that was the intent, as everyone was in a rather piratey mood when the move from Computer was made.

The Hounds of Herne/Hearne and other Fae Hounds

World Building Essay & Notes for Selkies’ Skins, Dragon Shaman, and The Shadow Chronicles

McCloud Fire Muster 2017 Parade Footage

I love our fire department. A large portion of my family volunteers on the department as well. We are in a rural community, so our department of volunteers also works with other departments around the county. THG StarDragon was not able to donate to help support the Muster financially, but we do plan to renew our annual space on the Community Calendar through the McCloud Firemen's Association to help support the department.

This Saturday was the annual Fire Muster in gorgeous McCloud, California. It was extremely fun, and my sunburn was worth it. We started with a parade of different departments that gathered, some from beyond our local area even. Afterward it was a trek to Hoo Hoo Park to watch the firefighter games. There were hamburgers and hot dogs, and several types of beer. I even had a beer, a very rare event, and I can recommend that Blackberry Blonde. There was a raffle and a silent auction for a wood carved yeti (the artist is shown in this video during the pre-parade windup). The Prizes were awarded and this year the trophy stays in McCloud, shared by McCloud CalFire and the McCloud Explorers. Following all of this was a Tri Tip dinner and then a dance.

Here is the parade footage below. I am working on getting footage from the games ready. I filled two cameras.

Candle Flash Sale and a Raffle

Candles go great with books. This is why I've also started selling candles with JIC Nation, or Jewelry in Candles. These candles are 100% soy based, sourced from soy that has been grown completely within the USA. These candles do not tunnel as easily as paraffin candles and do not soot unless you trim the wick incorrectly, meaning less black stuff to get into your lungs and soil your books.

Right now there is a sale going on. Using code FLASH at checkout discounts items from the Jewelry in Candles line, the Basics, and the JIC Naturals items. There is a lot more than JUST candles in the THG StarDragon Illuminations store, but the candles are tarts are what got me deciding to go with this particular company.

I do wish they offered votive candles too though.

Please go and look at what is on offer by clicking the graphic below, pick a favorite scent, and if you get one with jewelry I wish you luck as you could potentially receive a piece worth thousands of dollars.

Additionally, I am holding a raffle. Each candle purchase counts as an entry into my raffle for a Pink Flame candle. If you do not feel you can afford a candle you can also purchase a raffle ticket for $5 directly from me. The winner will receive a Pink Flame candle out of my stock on hand, or I will buy and send the scent the winner wants if I do not have it in my personal stock. My raffle will go until the last day of July. August first I will choose the winner and contact them. 

Raffle tickets are purchasable in person or via Paypal. Remember, every candle purchase from the candle store will also count as an entry!

The Raffle is a three pronged activity, and is in part a benefit drive. 1) I want to share how cool these candles are. 2) The Pink Flame isn't a cheap candle, and I know there are lots of people out there that might like the opportunity to have one of their own. 3) My daughter and I are taking my son to Disneyland for his 8th grade trip. He is autistic and needs to have several adults in case of over-stimulation. This is his first major trip since the passing of his grandfather (on my side) in December of 2008 so we expect it to bring up a lot of additional things for him to deal with. We have met our minimum to take him. However that is just our minimum, and my mother is wishing to extend the trip so that he can have time on the way back up the entire state of California to see some other places as well. This will help fund the extension. Anything left over would be split between a fund to prepare for his high school graduation in 4 years (Disney World is that goal) and toward a fund to pay Illya Leonov up front to record the first book of the Dragon Shaman series. When I contracted him to record Selkies' Skins he also was interested in recording the Dragon Shaman books. I want to make sure that he gets sufficient funding up front this time as the royalty share is taking longer than I had wished to give him a good return for his time.

Unboxing Publishing Stock & Flea Market Announcement

Direct order pricing adjustments

It is with regret that I am going to have to start imposing payment fees when payments are made through paypal. For my authors the past several years I have eaten the fee that Paypal charges me. I can no longer do that. Paypal charges me 2.9% + $0.30 of the total payment sent to me. For years I have only asked just a bit above manufacture price per author/illustrator-ordered book, far below my share of royalties, and after all of the associated fees I actually have been getting even less than my share of profits with which to pay myself. That makes it difficult to afford to make the business grow. The last order that I set to be fulfilled actually went in the red due to neglecting to calculate the fee Paypal took out of the sum.

New rates

• For my authors, illustrators, and editors associated with a particular title requesting copies of their titles to distribute locally or at booths copies will now be the base cost of manufacture plus 30% (instead of the 10% since I've not been seeing at least 20% additional coming back to meet my base share). Additionally shipping will still be charged, and taxes since I still have to pay the taxes. Paypal payments will now be calculated to include the 2.9% + 0.30 fees they charge.
• Single item orders from people not involved in a book will have no discounts.
• Bookstores, libraries, and other wholesalers contacting me to order a run of books sent will pay base cost of manufacture plus 50%, as I realize they too must have room for markup. Additionally shipping will still be charged, and taxes since I still have to pay the taxes. Paypal payments will now be calculated to include the 2.9% + 0.30 fees they charge.

Larger orders would give me more room to give discounts, calculated on a case by case basis for the time being.

How To: Reviews

When writing a review there are some things you will want to consider and touch on. You don't have to do them all, but the more you do the more thorough the review. This is primarily for books but can be applied to other items.

Main Body

• Title and Author
• Book Summary
• Technical aspects, quality, accuracy
• Emotional Impact
• Age range intended vs. Age range you feel it appeals to
• Suggested Readers

Star Ratings

• Some places use star ratings for how much the book was enjoyed by the reader.
• Some places use star ratings for quality purposes
• Some places do a combined system.

When you have negative things...

• Point out what you like
• CONSTRUCTIVELY Point out what you do not like or did not work for you. some criticism is ok, but it has to be done in a fashion that is not harmful and that might help a writer (beginner or not) improve.
• ALWAYS be polite.
• ALWAYS be honest.
• If you feel better bringing up detracting things in direct conversation with the author then it is good to do so. This also helps conversation between author and audience, and you might get lucky enough for that author to talk with you about character motivation or get told about planned future developments or backstory that exists but can't be public knowledge yet.

Book Review: Dark Musings by David Boiani

Book Review

Title: Dark Musings

Author: David Boiani

Where to get: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/722258

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y3HB1PF

Star Rating: 5 stars for both enjoyability and structure

Age Rating (IMO): PG13 for most of the stories

This book is a collection of short stories ranging from somber, macabre, all the way through beautiful. Some of them are all of these things. It starts strong and stays strong through the entire book. Some of these stories are going to haunt my head for awhile, such as the child rescued by the teacher, the serial killer, the mother that lost touch with reality, and the one about the birth of Adolf Hitler and his parent’s expectations as examples. There are so many different viewpoints and scenarios, and no character is flat. They live, they breathe, some of them you wonder if you’ll meet walking down the street or getting your morning coffee. Some of them you pray you never will. Yet, it is likely that at some point you will meet someone that might have stepped from these pages.

These are tales that might happen, some that do happen. It is not a journey for the faint of heart. However I also feel it is one that most should read. Some of these are great cautionary tales, and I would consider this a very good addition to a collection of modern folklore. They remind me in a way of books that I grew up with, such as the Scary Stories collections by Alvin Schwartz, but aimed for an older crowd.

It is hard to find anything that I did not like. Some of the stories appalled me, but not because the author dared write them. They appalled me because I’ve read of things similar happening in news and some of the things addressed are real. It is not the author’s job to control his fellow man, and an author’s job is as much to shine light on the good as it is to expose the bad. Therefore I do not find anything to actually detract. It was very well done. I am going to be suggesting this book to several people that I know who will immensely enjoy it.

Personal note for Youtube: It took me a couple days to finish this book. I prefer to read in long uninterrupted sessions, but it just was not able to happen as I’d have liked. If I had nothing else on my plate I would have been able to finish in less than a day. You might prefer to read this one story a day and contemplate to let the full effect seep in, or you might read in spurts here and there and you can grab the time, both would work and if done would lengthen your reading time. If you are like me and like to carve out reading days then you still will be able to. This book fits any reading style due to the short story structure.

Mozilla's Campaign for net neutrality

I have just signed Mozilla's campaign regarding strong net neutrality regulations. This is intended to help preserve the free use of the internet to watch, read, and say what one wants. What is available to us should not be limited by religion or anything else within America, as this is clearly under the 1st Amendment and an issue of free speech. I invite you to join me.
Click here to see the campaign or to sign your name.

Book Review: The Eleventh Hour (The Prime Insurgency #11)

We have come to the end of my personal challenge, the Advance Review Copies, and the series. I greatly enjoyed the chance to read through these books. Having spoken with the author there will be two boxed sets for this series.

• Books 1-6
• Books 7-11

Book Review

Title: The Eleventh Hour (The Prime Insurgency #11)

Author: J. D. Stonebridge

Author’s page: https://www.amazon.com/J.D.-Stonebridge/e/B00OPZ1YQU

First off the end of this made me tear up. Even in winning there was defeat, as should be expected in a storyline such as this, as inevitably someone is going to lose. I don’t think any of the characters in this were truly evil. In this I am reminded a bit of Miyazaki’s works. It is very fast, but at the end, in that last chapter, it gets very somber very quickly.

Even though we have deity-like Primes, the truth of the gods of the various religions, there is no deus ex machina in this. Everything is explainable. Even down to the battle between two “father figures” and a colossal screw up that possibly could have been avoided if not for one thing. Pride. This is what I take from the story anyway.

The story is not ended, not with what the epilogue sets up. Once more Tony goes missing, leaving behind a note begging not to be sought or stopped. Of course Lauren and Lance are going to go looking. I hope to see another series following this storyline.

Once more the writing is good. The characters come alive in this and it is the interplay of character with plot that keeps the pages turning so fast. You get attached to them. You grimace when they get hit, feel bad when they die.

There were a few places that jarred me out of the flow but I was pulled along by the story so fast that by the time I realized I was already too far forward to go back and make note of it properly. This was a very enjoyable book and series, which I would recommend for anyone that likes contemporary sci fi, whether teen or older.

Book Review: Ten Great Beams (The Prime Insurgency #10)

Nearing the end of my personal challenge, the Advance Review Copies, and the series. There's only one more after this! Having spoken with the author there will be two boxed sets for this series.

• Books 1-6
• Books 7-11

Book Review

Title: Ten Great Beams (The Prime Insurgency #10)

Author: J. D. Stonebridge

Author’s page: https://www.amazon.com/J.D.-Stonebridge/e/B00OPZ1YQU

In this book we learn what happens with Tony and get more intimate with Sun Child, or Rathanos. We also discover that this Prime is a huge book worm. I have to compare him with Thoth and with Apollo. We are not brought in his viewpoint to where he met back up with Lance yet, I am assuming that this comes in the next book “Eleventh Hour.” We do however learn more about two plans, Rathanos’ plan, and that of the Zeus/Ivan. I cannot recall off the top of my head the actual name of the storm Prime that was given in one of the previous books. Thus I have to admit falling into the pantheon problem when these beings are more of what is at the root of them all.

So I wonder if this also makes Sun Child/Rathanos the seed for Amaterasu as well, given how some saw that deity is female and others male.

Again the writing is well done. I noticed less strange drop downs in dialogue. This time they really were at logical places such as paragraphs within speech. The characters are still rounded and believable, and growing, living, breathing. It is obvious how much thought each character was given. The story stays intriguing the further one goes. I also very much liked how Tony, the scholar, ends up standing up to Ivan, the host of the Zeus-like Prime, and displaying the bravery that others have commented on.

Book Review: Ninth Wonder (The Prime Insurgency #9)

I am back with another review based on an Advance Review Copy that I was given for feedback.

Book Review

Title: Ninth Wonder (The Prime Insurgency #9)

Author: J. D. Stonebridge

Page count:

Where to get:

Author’s page: https://www.amazon.com/J.D.-Stonebridge/e/B00OPZ1YQU

This was another quick read. You really want to read the previous books in the series before reading this one in order to fully understand and appreciate what is going on. In this episode Lance and his new Prime body buddy have to learn to work together, which would be a lot easier if Lance was the sort of guy who could share. Lance has to make some more close calls, follow his instincts, and walk a bit in faith in order to meet back up with his battle buddies.

That plan, as one might expect in a war of Primes, does not go exactly as planned, but he does make some new allies and learns a shocking, or perhaps not so shocking, truth. Tony has been lost but now he is found, and Lance is not a happy man.

I was pleased with how the characters continue to grow and develop, and with the way the new characters are introduced into the storyline. It reminds me a bit of folding the batter versus stirring it, to borrow from baking terminology. The books are feeling like they are getting a bit longer than the previous ones in the series. There is more meat in these later episodes. Perhaps it is because the stakes are so high, and there is so much more to take care of now that we are running at speed.

Book Review: The Writer's Digest Handbook of Short Story Writing

Book Review

The Writer's Digest Handbook of Short Story Writing

I borrowed a copy of this from the local library as I have been considering getting a copy of my own. Advice that writers often give each other is to always be reading, whether fiction, history, or books about writing.

I found it to be well worth the borrow and it will definitely be moving up in my mental list of books to procure for when I am stuck with a writing problem. I ended up renewing the book after the first two weeks so that I would have more time with it. I found a great deal of information in it that even though it is a review I found useful to be able to isolate and focus on elements concept by concept. Some of the concepts have more than one article about them and by more than one author to give various viewpoints and methods of address.

Book Review: Eightfold Way (The Prime Insurgency #8)

This book is not currently available to the public yet. I get the treat of reading the Advance Review Copy of this book and posting a pre-release review. I will be returning to update this post with the individual link once the book has been released to the public.

Book Review

Title: Eightfold Way (The Prime Insurgency #8)

Author: J. D. Stonebridge

Where to get:

Author’s page: https://www.amazon.com/J.D.-Stonebridge/e/B00OPZ1YQU

I have to say that I really like how these title names not only work in the number within the series but also trace out a particular spiritual path.

In this book we get treated to memories of the Prime that now inhabits Lance. Two of the Primes that this Prime shares memories of remind me greatly of Zeus and Juno. It almost has me seeking a place to put “Amacaron” within the Greco-Roman pantheons, but I know that if I give in to this urge too much that I could miss a lot. However as I read further I am reminded more and more of Mercury. After Apollo’s appearance, however, I had to look up Amacaron.

The scene in this part of the story regarding the planet itself waging war against the alien invaders has me thinking about the stories of Atlantis and the lesser known Mu and Lemuria.

Overall I would say that a good portion of this episode of the series focuses on the story of how man came to be, what was the event that caused Pangaea to break and begin continental drift, and several other events set into motion in the distant past. It was absolutely fascinating to me.

And then it ended on the usual cliffhanger. Functionally, limiting each book to six chapters seems to be really good at doing that.

Reviews: The Prime Insurgency Books 2-7 (out of 11)

Let us start with the most recent of the books in the series that I have finished reading. This review has not gone to Amazon yet as I have been able to obtain an Advance Review copy of books 6 through 11. I am rather happy for this opportunity to read ahead. I really do not like waiting when it is so easy to get so caught up in other things as to forget a series when I am ready for it. I have written to this author and found out that he intends to do two boxed sets for this series, but as of this morning he did not have a set release date for them.

Book Review

Title: The Seventh Circle (#7 in The Prime Insurgency)

Author: J. D. Stonebridge

Where to get: I will place the link here when I see the book has gone to public.

Author’s page: https://www.amazon.com/J.D.-Stonebridge/e/B00OPZ1YQU

This book took the series on a huge turn in my opinion. The one person that I did not really expect to become a Prime ended up a Prime, and we get close to seeing the transfer. I was glad to see the dynamic duo end up getting split up. Even though I like them greatly as a team it is about time for them to have some solo time. I look forward to seeing how that fares for them in the next book. I also really like how Lance is forced to make some tough calls.

As usual the writing style is very fast. There were a few places where paragraphs dropped down strangely, but I am unsure if that was intentional or if it was a result of the compilation that I was gifted.

Book Review

Title: Into the Hexagon

Author: J. D. Stonebridge

Page count: 63 pages

Where to get: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ERRNJY0

Author’s page: https://www.amazon.com/J.D.-Stonebridge/e/B00OPZ1YQU

When this series was pointed out to me I did not expect how addicting it was to become. With this particular episode the plot of the series is advanced even further. We uncover a corporation conducting illegal and questionable experiments to go along with the Primes. The boys do not find Lauren, but rather she finds them. We meet three new Primes. The usual destruction occurs. Poor Tony and Lance seem to encounter violent explosions wherever they go. So much for being out of the military and any ideas of a peaceful life that Lance might have had. I quite sympathize with his momentary desire to go back to the desert! It would all be so much to take and I think that by this time the progressive forward movement they have to make simply to stay alive is what is preventing mental breakdowns. If you want action, this is a good place to get it. As usual detail is detailed, but fleeting. You do not have a great opportunity to luxuriate or bask. You get to rest now and then, but those are brief. As usual, this is a good read if you are looking for something light but engaging, and I do not mean light as in not requiring thought.

If you have not been watching the Youtube channel, here are the previous reviews.

Book 2:

Book 3:

Book 4 & 5:

Ame's Bookshelf:The One In Light (The Prime Insurgency Bk 1) Review