Quincy J. Allen and THE BLOOD WAR Chronicles

So, the old blog has been quiet for a while, but I have huge news. My buddy Quincy J. Allen just released BLOOD OATH (The Blood War Chronicles Book 3). And he’s running a sale on the first two books. So, yes, this is your queue to run out there and check them out! It’s steampunk fun turned epic fantasy amazing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And yes, this is the same Quincy J. Allen that wrote an amazing story for THE JUNIPER WARS called “Guardian Angel.

So, yeah, big news for my fellow writing buddy and road dog. Check it out!

 

 

 

 

Mario Acevedo and Juniper Gossip – Ezekiel 37:23

This is Mario Acevedo drunk.
marioscotch

This is Mario Acevedo drunk on Jesus.

curry_tragic_prelude

Kidding! I’m kidding.

But not really.

What’s funny, when I first approached Mario about writing a story in the world of The Juniper Wars series, he immediately had an idea and then sent me the picture above, the one with the mad pioneer with the bible in one hand and a rifle in the other. He said, and I quote, “THIS CAPTURES THE HEART OF MY STORY!”

I gulped. I nodded politely. I backed away slowly.

Actually, working with Mario was a treat. I was so impressed by his professionalism and his raw talent. Edits were a breeze because he is such an amazing writer. And earned his amazingness after decades of hard work, cheap booze, and a weekly critique group, which I so honored to be member of for years and years.

So, yeah, good writing shows in the final product, but we don’t see all the years of doubt, tears, sweat, and dead bodies.

I hoped I helped Mario’s story shine a little brighter. It really is a great piece of short fiction.

Click here for “Ezekial 37:23” by Mario Acevedo (a zip file containing the *.mobi, *.epub, and *.PDF)

Prophet Brother Othniel has given his followers an order: find women and find babies. Josheb, a hardened veteran and true believer, will discover a horrible secret that will break the bones of his world. Let the cleansing begin.

 

 

 

Mario Acevedo is the author of the bestselling Felix Gomez detective-vampire series, which includes Rescue From Planet Pleasure from WordFire Press. His debut novel, The Nymphos of Rocky Flats, was chosen by Barnes & Noble as one of the best Paranormal Fantasy Novels of the Decade and was a finalist for a Colorado Book Award. He contributed two stories for the award-winning horror anthology, Nightmares Unhinged, by Hex Publishers. His novel, Good Money Gone, co-authored with Richard Kilborn, won a best novel 2014 International Latino Book Award. Mario lives and writes in Denver, Colorado. Visit him at his website at http://www.marioacevedo.com/.

This is Mario sober.

mario-sober

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J.D. Stone and The Juniper Tales Project – “I Ain’t New Morality”

No, really, I did really did write “I ain’t New Morality” in response to J.D. Stone asking if he could submit a story for The Juniper Tales Project. I was only looking for published authors, and this was invite only. However, I like it when people ask, looking for nos. I love it. So I said yes.

Mr. Stone said yes when I asked him if he would write a blog post about his experience. So yeses all around! Hope you enjoy this blog and his story. I love it!

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magpiesfinalI’m a hobbyist writer. I’ve pecked out my share of fan fiction, read books about writing, taken classes, attended conferences. However, a combination of life circumstance, awkward vision, inability to self compromise, lackadaisical attitude and old-fashioned fear of getting it wrong has prevented my novel from getting past eight chapters or so.

One of the things I picked up while pursuing my expensive hobby is an association with resident author superstar Aaron Michael Ritchey. I consequently wound up with an ARC of “Dandelion Iron.” When I read that note at the end, that described how other authors had been invited to expand the already rich universe of the Juniper, I decided to ask in.

Ritchey goes to a lot of cons, signings, workshops and the like. I was just another aspiring writer looking to latch onto his duster. For all either of us knew, I was a terrible writer. Odds were strong I’d be wasting his time, so he had every reason to gently say “no.” Instead he said, “I ain’t New Morality,” and allowed me to submit.

Of course all the normal fears crossed my mind. What if I’m terrible, what if I’m boring, if my voice doesn’t fit the universe? I was never concerned about that comical, over-the-top villain behavior where the editor cackles as he burns the manuscript in a fire and tells me to go back to the Warcraft message boards like a good little fanboy which is, now that I type it, an oddly specific thing to not be concerned about. But I was very much afraid of something worse. What if he’s indifferent?

The worst that could happen, though, would be a polite refusal. He’d let me down gently and besides, perverse as it sounds, it’s always been my ambition to be rejected. A rejection means a submission, and for all the time, effort and money I’ve poured into craft, I’d never finished and submitted. A milestone was in reach regardless of the result, so that is why I was brazen and presumed on Ritchey’s effusive good nature. That’s why I rushed to produce a draft. The only way I could lose this writer’s game was to not play.

I think it’s worth noting that I always wanted to be a published author, but it took more than writing to get me there. I had to be sociable, otherwise I never would have met Ritchey. I had to be an active member of the community, otherwise I never would have received and read that ARC. I had to be a little (or maybe a lot) audacious to talk my way into a closed circle. Only then did the writing matter.

Don’t misread me, the writing does matter. It matters a lot. But it wouldn’t matter at all without those other elements, which can all be summed up in the quality of risk. I had to suspend my fear to ask for a chance. Ritchey had to be generous with his time to give it. We’re both pretty happy we did, and I hope you will be, too.

J.D. Stone

To see the summary of his story and links to the download click here!