Seventh Star Press Proudly Announces Eric Garrison as Newest Member of Author Family

Posted on January 28, 2013

For Immediate Release
January 28, 2013
Seventh Star Press Proudly Announces Eric Garrison as Newest Member of Its Author Family

Seventh Star Press is proud to announce the addition of Eric Garrison to its author family with a six book deal that will bring his paranormal, humor-laced, fantastical tales to reading audiences everywhere.  The first three books scheduled to be published comprise the Road Ghosts series, with the first title, Four ’til Late, slated for a late spring/early summer release in 2013.

For the full press release go to LINK.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

The Last Page by Anthony Huso

 

This is one of those books that makes you wonder if your own imagination was some how truncated.  Huso paints a Timothy Leary type civilization with overtones of steam-punk.   Caliph Howl is called to lead his nation and finds himself surrounded by treachery. 

Huso’s rich environment is populated by characters and things that are right out of a Rod Serling nightmare.  The settings are detailed and frequently nightmarishly populated.   Caliph is a young man with a troubled past and an iron will.  His relationship with his personal “witch” is complex and fraught with peril.   

The plot is Machiavellian in it’s boxwood maze of treachery and betrayal.   This book is much like a plate of your favorite Christmas cookies.  It has something everyone enjoys, some things that you would never eat and you can keep yourself from going back for more.   I look forward to the conclusion of this duology, Black Bottle.

I highly recommend the book. 

Body of  work of <a type="amzn" > Anthony Huso </a>

Web site: http://anthonyhuso.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

The Two Cent Price Increase Was Heartbreaking

Source: art.com via Nacole on Pinterest

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

This Honest Man by Robert J. Sullivan

This is the second of the Sam Dane interplanetary private detective books.   Sam is an ex-cop turned private who enjoys an intergalactic reputation.  This mystery puts him up against a world leader, a band of revolutionaries and some very mean capitalists. 

Bob has done a good job crafting a detective in a classic mold of a tough guy with a heart.   His small acts of kindness provide him with help in surprising ways.   He is a likeable character. 
I found this book more polished than the first book, In the Blood posted here a week or so back.    I enjoyed it too but this one put some synthetic oil in the cylinders and they seem to run more smoothly.   

The plot is intricate without being confusing.   The aliens are alien enough to add color but share emotional attributes that are identifiable.  

The story is fast paced and quite entertaining.  Sam shows surprising restraint and exhibits laudable traits.   There may be the root to a parable in his surprise to find an honest man. 
I recommend this book!

Body of  work of <a type="amzn" > Robert J. Sullivan </a>

Web Site: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/730625.Robert_J_Sullivan

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Fantasy Art 1/25/13

Source: google.com via Dottie on Pinterest

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Wicked Game by Jeri Smith-Ready

 

The wealth of vampire books out there makes it difficult to differentiate yourself from the horde.  Ms. Smith-Ready does a nice job standing out from the pack.   She put together a unique plot with some “civilized” vampires.

Ciara has a childhood she is trying to forget and in attempting to forge a new direction for her life she ends up embroiled in the salvation of some otherworldly disc jockeys.   Ciara is a likeable character who seems to vacillate from no confidence to over confidence.   She also responds with passion to a variety of stimuli.  

I liked the premise and the DJs concept.   The book was entertaining and romantic.  The romantic aspect is not something I personally find appealing but it will most definitely entice a large audience.
I recommend the book.

Body of  work of <a type="amzn" > Jeri Smith-Ready</a>

Web site: http://www.jerismithready.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Fantasy Art 1/21/13

Source: whatanart.com via Lady on Pinterest

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

In The Blood by Robert J. Sullivan

A planet in a galaxy far, far away is experiencing a string of murders.  The targets are all strictly human so a human detective, from off world, is called in as a specialist. The Zherghi are different than humans but apparently not that different.

Sam Dane is a good character and I enjoyed his behavior.   He isn’t a super detective, he appears to be a hard working cop struggling in a vastly foreign environment.   Mr. Sullivan does a nice job creating a believable alien society  The social and economic impact of the arrival of the humans impacts Zherghi society in a variety of inexplicable ways.  

The plot and premise were well done and the story read with a good pace which one would expect from a hard boiled detective novel, albeit one set on an alien planet.  This is Bob’s first book and it is a good one.  I look forward to the next.

I recommend this book!

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Good Advice From Strange Places

Source: funstoo.blogspot.com via Lydia on Pinterest

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Shadowplay by Tad Williams

The book chronicles the clash between Fae and Mortal as well as the machinations of a China like empire.   As I mentioned after the first book in the series, Shadowmarch, this book has a bit of the flavor of the last Williams book I read, The War of the Flowers.   The story continues where Shadowmarch left off.

Repeating myself from the Shadowmarch review, the complexity of Williams world crafting is just amazing.   He provides detail and then he provides details on the detail.  I revel in his carefully crafted characters and environment.

Williams writes with a gourmand attitude on his characters.   There is a wealth of personalities and foibles.   His characters are alive and become more real page by page.   They have flaws and faults and demonstrate both laudable and despicable behavior.

The sibling relationship between Barrick and Briony is nearly severed by circumstances beyond their control.   Each of them is now developed as more of a stand alone character rather than a matched pair.

Chert and family are back and in the center of the Shadowmarch conflict.   Barrick’s quest pairs him with Ferras and Stormlantern, one of their enemies.  

There are almost too many wonderful characterizations even the crow has surprising aspects.  Again this book is definitely a banquet not a lunch.   The settings are painted with a clarity that makes you shiver in the unnatural Fae fog.   

This is the 2nd book in the Shadowmarch series and I will look forward to reading the rest.

I highly recommend the book and the series.

Body of work of <a type="amzn"> Tad Williams </a>

Web site: http://www.tadwilliams.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Fantasy Art 1/13/13

Source: fantasyinspiration.com via B. on Pinterest

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

The Asylum Interviews: Trixie by Jocelynn Drake

Angel’s Ink filled in all the background information that I wanted when I read Asylum Interviews:Bronx.  Angel’s Ink also filled in the blanks for this book.   Both Trixie and Bronx can be read as stand alone stories without any problem.   However I do recommend you read Angel’s Ink first.   Gage, the ex-warlock, finds himself embroiled in a situation between a vampire and her nest. 
 
I don’t know if Jim Butcher’s books have influenced Ms. Drake but there are some similarities particularly with both main protagonists and their inability to submit willingly to authority.   With that said, Ms. Drake’s books are different and highly enjoyable.   

Bronx who we met in his book, is a steadfast companion and always has Gage’s back.   The loyalty is admirable.   We meet Trixie who immediately intrigues Gage.  I like the emotions and the interactions between characters in Ms. Drake’s books. 

If I can be so bold to suggest a future story, one giving more background on the mysterious Chang would be very enjoyable.  The books are in the same family as Jim Butcher but with plenty of differences.  

I highly recommend the book. 

Body of work of <a type="amzn"> Jocelynn Drake</a>

Web Site: http://www.jocelynndrake.com/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Who Really Wrote That Story?

Source: libraryusergroup.com via LibraryPeople on Pinterest

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

The Sum of Her Parts by Alan Dean Foster

 

 This is volume three of the Tipping Point Trilogy.  My biggest complaint is that I haven’t read the previous two books.   This is a quest for truth in a desert populated by widely varied mutants.  

Dr. Ingrid and Whispr, a meld, spend a lot of time ducking and weaving through an enormous number of adversaries.   A meld is apparently a genetically or surgically reconstructed being.   I would know for sure if I didn’t have another complaint.  That complaint would be almost a total lack of back story.   Although the book stood alone quite well, it would have been better with some back story.  For example, I would know precisely how melds are created.

The creativity Foster exhibits in his characters and plots is to be applauded.   I have read much of his work and have been uniformly pleased.   This story is no exception.   Anthropomorphism is involved and if you have read any of my posts, you are aware of how much I enjoy that.  

I really enjoyed the book, the extreme diversity and complexity of the characters and the ending which was not predictable.  

I recommend the book.  

Body of work of <a type="amzn"> Alan Dean Foster </a>

Web Site: http://www.alandeanfoster.com/version2.0/frameset.htm

Bradburyism

Source: google.com via Sarah on Pinterest

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Writers Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy Cover Revealed!

Writers Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy Cover Revealed

Seventh Star Press is proud to reveal the new cover created by award-winning artist Matthew Perry for the upcoming release of the Writers Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Developed by Bram Stoker Award-winning editor Michael Knost, the Writers Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy is a treasure trove for writers of all levels looking to develop their craft in the speculative fiction genres.  Featuring contributions from several of the best speculative fiction authors in the world such as Neil Gaiman, Orson Scott Card, Harry Turtledove, James Gunn, Alan Dean Foster, Ursula K. Le Guin, Joe Haldeman, Kevin J. Anderson, Tim Powers, Mike Resnick, and many, many more, the book features a wealth of essays and interviews focusing on the writing craft as it pertains to the genres of fantasy and science fiction.

Slated for a late February release in eBook and a trade paperback release following soon after, the Writers Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy will be an important contribution to the speculative fiction literary community.  Whether just beginning a writing journey or extensively published, writers of all degrees of experience are certain to find this book to be an invaluable reference source.
For further information on the Seventh Star Press and its titles such as the Writers Workshop of Science Fiction and Fantasy, please visit www.seventhstarpress.com

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Wards of Faerie by Terry Brooks

Another tale of Shannara with familiar settings and some what familiar characters on a quest.

This book describes a quest by the Ard Rhys of the Druids in a search for the long missing Elfstones.   The Elfstones were lost in the past and their powerful magic could swing the balance of power for whoever finds them.   The Druids feel that they are the only impartial power that can keep the Elfstones from being used for evil.

Politics seem to play a part in every book I have read recently.  The Druids are distrusted by the humans and the elves.   The Druids who are elves are shunned by their community.  The struggle for power seems to be the main theme of the book.  

The characters were not as memorable as I recall Shannara characters.  There was potential in the Ohmsfords, Aphenglow, Bombax and Cymrian.   None of them were fleshed out to the point where they will be remembered as clearly as Shea Ohmsford.  

Body of  work of <a type="amzn" > Terry Brooks</a>

Web Site:  http://www.terrybrooks.net/

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.

Video Trailer for H. David Blalock’s Traitor Ange

New Video Trailer for H. David Blalock’s Traitor Angel Now Up!

A new video trailer is now up for H. David Blalock’s Traitor Angel, the second title of his highly-acclaimed Angelkiller Triad.  If you’ve read the books, help spread the word, and if you have not, discover what these books are all about.  One of the most thought-provoking urban fantasy series to be published in recent years, the Angelkiller Triad fuses the supernatural and the technological in a thrilling tale chock full of action and intrigue.

This book may have been received free of charge from a publisher or a publicist. That will NEVER have a bearing on my recommendations.