Phoenix Entertainment and Development

Phoenix Entertainment and Development

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Dream Cast for The Phoenix Blade Part 2

Have you ever read a book and then saw the movie and thought I really didn't see that person playing so and so in the movie? Ever wish you could hand pick the actors and actresses for a movie. I've thought about the same thing many times when watching a movie that originated from a book. In fact it's something I've thought about for a while when it comes to the characters in my book The Phoenix Blade: Project Justice. So I thought with the upcoming release of the second book in The Phoenix Blade Series, Awakening (available Sept 2nd on Amazon.com), I thought I would take some time to give my thoughts on who I would have portray the characters on the big screen.


Erik
A flashy smartass that enjoys the luxurious lifestyle of a being a high paid hitman. The only people he is loyal to are his best friend, Joe, and his girlfriend, Natalya.
Rider Strong
Known for his iconic role as Shawn Hunter on the hit TV show Boy Meets World, Rider Strong has filled various roles in several genres including family shows, kids shows, horror movies, police dramas and comedies. He is a perfect candidate for the role of Erik with his slick smile that tells gets people to trust him one minute and can snap him into a killer the next.


Joe Matthews
Sarcastic, aggressive and consumed with violence. Joe won't hesitate to act on his impulses but is crafty enough to plan out an attack without getting caught.
Teddy Dunn
Although he has not played many roles, Dunn has made an impact as Duncan Kane in Veronica Mars. His character was heartbroken over the loss of his sister and misplaced his anger and hurt by becoming distant and keeping those he really cared about away. Dunn has the look I am searching for when it comes to the Joe Matthews character and believe he could pull off the intelligent aggressive assassin.
 
Natalya
Charming, breathtakingly beautiful and deadly. Natalya is the character that the group is unsure can be trusted as she keeps her past a complete secret. She is the woman that can easily distract a guard or a target while her team fulfills the mission and will kill her victims with a kiss of death.
Olivia Munn
Known for her role as Sloan Sabbith on the show The Newsroom and her time as host of Attack of the Show, Olivia Munn has shown she can be playful, funny, and serious in any role she has portrayed. Her quirkiness, sex appeal to men, and her ability to change her on camera personality makes her fit the temptress assassin role for the Natalya character.
 
Faith Brant
She is Andrew Lancaster's ex-girlfriend that gives the group a place to crash for a few hours as the journey to their second mission. Her stubbornness and take no B.S. attitude has her clashing with her ex and his best friend constantly throughout The Phoenix Blade Series, but also see her compassionate side when she finally decides to let her guard down.
Karen Gillan
A relatively new actress to me although she has been in various roles since 2008. Her recent role as Kaylie Russell in the horror film Oculus proved to standout in my mind. Her fast talking, stubborn, need to get to the bottom of things attitude hit me as the perfect red head to fit the role of Faith Brant.
 
Amber Fergusson
Sassy, sweet and stubborn is the best way to describe Amber Fergusson. She is someone that appears near the end of the first book, Project Justice, but plays a key role in the second and third books in The Phoenix Blade Series.
Anna Kendrick
I first noticed Anna Kendrick in the movie Pitch Perfect, but was not the role that made me see her as the perfect choice for the Amber Fergusson character. It was her role in 50/50 as Katherine, Adam's therapist, that made me see the kind emotional side of Kendrick. Her other roles showed her stubborn and sassy attitude that was a great fit for the role.

The first book in The Phoenix Blade Series, Project Justice is now available for free on Smashwords. Pickup your copy now to get ready for the Awakening
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/462530

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Book Review: Curse of Nefertiti by Charline Ratcliff

Welcome everyone to another big week on the Writer's Revolution. I am your host, the author of The Phoenix Blade, Andrew Hess. Our book review of the week comes from Charline Ratcliff, author of Curse of Nefertiti









Synopsis
Over three thousand years ago, all of Egypt lies in ruins. The country that had dazzled the world is now completely annihilated, and the Nile runs red with the blood of her people.

Nefertiti's spirit walks the land and looks at the utter devastation she has unwittingly allowed to transpire. In desperation she cries out to the Gods, and they take pity on her. They send her forward into the future, so she may return later to correct her mistakes.

This is the story of Nefertiti, of the life she has lived here as Kayla, unaware of her true identity until finally reunited with the man who is the living reincarnation of her murdered husband, Akhenaten.

She is faced with a difficult choice. Return to Egypt and save her country and its people or stay here with the man who holds her heart.

And if she returns to Egypt, will she remember her life as Kayla, so she may be returned to it before her life becomes forfeit in the past?

Charline Ratcliff's tale is woven with likeable and believable characters, powerful visceral imagery, and a tapestry of combining old with new to create a masterful novel. Her debut novel is a stunning achievement that deftly envelops the reader.

Rating: 5 out of 5
 
The Review:
I am a big fan of Egyptian art and history and have been for many years. Curse of Nefertiti is a book guaranteed to keep your attention throughout the story. It offers great insight into a fictional take on Queen Nefertiti as her spirit is sent into the future to seek out the man she loves and rights her wrongs. The detail to the story is incredible, the strength in the relationship between Kayla and Paolo was intense which made you pull for the couple as Kayla struggles with her identity and her decisions. This is a great book that all fans of the romance genre should check out.

Grab a copy of Charline's book Curse of Nefertiti
http://www.amazon.com/The-Curse-Nefertiti-Charline-Ratcliff-ebook/dp/B002PHMNM4/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

Like her on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Charline-Ratcliff/165838614551

Like her Amazon Page:
http://www.amazon.com/Charline-Ratcliff/e/B00J1GB0E4/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1


Check out my page on Amazon for event updates, virtual book tours, upcoming reviews, and of course to purchase your copy of The Phoenix Blade Books: Project Justice, and Awakening
http://www.amazon.com/Andrew-Hess/e/B00COCQJ5M/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1409150649&sr=1-2-ent

And remember to rate and review the books on Amazon.com. Everyone has a voice; let it be heard.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Dream Cast: The Phoenix Blade: Project Justice Part 1

Have you ever read a book and then saw the movie and thought I really didn't see that person playing so and so in the movie? Ever wish you could hand pick the actors and actresses for a movie. I've thought about the same thing many times when watching a movie that originated from a book. In fact it's something I've thought about for a while when it comes to the characters in my book The Phoenix Blade: Project Justice. So I thought with the upcoming release of the second book in The Phoenix Blade Series, Awakening (available Sept 2nd on Amazon.com), I thought I would take some time to give my thoughts on who I would have portray the characters on the big screen.

Andrew Lancaster.
Andrew Lancaster has been a troubled teen, a man seeking revenge for his mother's death, a soldier for Project Justice, a lover and someone desperately trying to find a way out. His character has been one of the hardest ones I could ever think to cast because it is someone I have spent years getting to know. Many have given their input as to who they would put in that role, but none seemed right to me. Then I found two actors that have the look for the Andrew Lancaster role and have been acting for years.
  • Skylar Astin- His most notable role to this point has been Jesse in the hit movie Pitch Perfect but has also made cameo appearances in shows like Glee, House, Massholes, Girls, Love Bites, and in other movies such as 21 and over, Wreck-It Ralph and has signed on to reprise his role of Jesse in Pitch Perfect 2.
  • David Henrie-He fits the perfect age range for the Andrew Lancaster character. And although he is still young, David has an impressive acting resume with cameo appearances on shows from his childhood to his reoccurring role as Justin Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place to being in the movie Grown Ups 2 and his upcoming role in Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2. His most notable roles have been on Wizards of Waverly Place and being seen as Ted Mosby's son on How I Met Your Mother.
Lilly Henderson

Lilly Henderson is a character that is sweet and caring. A woman you want to pull for and wish to see her get her happy ending. At the same time she has that snappy, overprotective, stubborn attitude that makes her a good fit for the Andrew Lancaster's group. With that said, her character needs the right type of actress to fit perfectly into that role and there was only one that I could think of.
  • Cristin Milioti- She was the witty Czech girl in the hit Broadway Show, Once, but it was her performance as "the mother" on How I Met Your Mother that made me take notice of Milioti's incredible acting. Her soft voice and witty remarks reminded me of the Lilly character from The Phoenix Blade which made me believe she was the only actress that could pull off the performance.
Mike Santangelo
Mike adds the comedic flare to the group, but is also very serious. He is young, youthful, still wanting to party but understands the dire situation he and his friends are in. There are two actors that would be great fits for Mike's character
  • Logan Henderson-A young up and comer. He has the look of a typical early twenties frat boy which best describes Mike Santangelo's character. Henderson's filmography begins in 2008 with Friday Night Lights and is most notable for his role as Logan Mitchel of Big Time Rush.
  • Shawn Roberts-A 30yr old actor who has the cunning wit and youthful face to portray Mike Santangelo. Roberts has been acting since 1994 with an impressive resume including paying the infamous Albert Wesker from the Resident Evil Series.
Agent Peterson
Agent Peterson has been one of the three wild cards in The Phoenix Blade series. He is the hunter and pursuer of the group known as the Revolution that eventually comes to their aid. He is the most trustworthy Federal Agent, loyal to serving his country and the man everyone chooses to hunt down those on the most wanted list. In my mind there is only one actor that could fit the bill for Agent Peterson.
  • Adam Baldwin-He An actor of thirty-four years, Baldwin (not related to the other Baldwins) has been in countless movies and TV shows such as Independence Day, Castle, Full Metal Jacket, Predator 2, Wyatt Earp, The X-Files, and (of course my favorite) Lieutenant John Casey in the show Chuck. He has the stone cold look of a Federal Agent, the intensity in his acting roles to pull off a man that will go to any lengths to track down criminals and yet still have compassion for truth and justice.
Tino Arcana
The second wild card in The Phoenix Blade Series. Arcana was the man entrusted to play the Revolution's video to send their message to the world. He is crafty and mysterious. He has history with the Benefactor and the information he holds is a game changer.
  • Anthony Tyler Quinn-He played Mr. Jonathan Turner from Boy Meets World. He has the soft spoken yet authoritative voice needed to portray a network executive who has a jaded personality. He has the perfect persona to convince Andrew Lancaster to trust him.
The Benefactor
The final wild card from the Project Justice book. He is cunning, cold, calculating bud yet the man you are forced to trust. His voice in unmistakable and sends chills down your spine. But he has something to prove and even more to hide.
  • Donald Sutherland-One of the most entertaining and dynamic actors around. He is someone that pull off any role and make it his own memorable character. With his most recent role as President Snow in the Hunger Games, Sutherland has the cockiness, the cold calculating actions and the chilling voice needed to truly become the Benefactor. 



The first book in The Phoenix Blade Series, Project Justice is now available for free on Smashwords. Pickup your copy now to get ready for the Awakening
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/462530

Friday, August 22, 2014

Book Review: Sulfurings


Welcome everyone to another big week on the Writer's Revolution. I am your host, the author of The Phoenix Blade, Andrew Hess. Today, we'll be reviewing the book Sulfurings




Synopsis:
In the ancient past, God destroyed Sodom & Gomorrah for their wickedness - so the legend goes. In Sulfurings: Tales from Sodom & Gomorrah, 18 authors tell their own stories about the destruction of the ancient cities.

These tales are apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic in the highest order. You'll meet creatures great and small, real and imaginary, struggling to survive a sudden calamity that not only takes them by surprise but takes their lives and the lives of their loved ones. There are glimpses of redemption and depictions of fleshly horror. But every story is well told and deserving to be read.

Sulfurings: Tales from Sodom & Gomorrah consists of 10 flash fiction stories, 6 short stories, 1 poem, and one creative essay.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review:

While this book is filled with random stories that at first appear to make no sense, you eventually see them tie together very nicely. The contributing authors joined together beautifully to tell the story of the sudden destruction from each author's perspective. Although unorthodox, Sulfurings was one of the most creative books I have read in quite some time. It was an easy read and can be read through quickly. The only negative thing I can say is that I wished there was more to each story and was too quick of a read for me.

Make sure to grab your copy of Sulfurings on Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Sulfurings-Gomorrah-Biblical-Legends-Anthology-ebook/dp/B00LKSYX2M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408556909&sr=8-1&keywords=sulfurings


and grab your free copy of The Phoenix Blade: Project Justice
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/462530
And remember to rate and review the books on Amazon.com. Everyone has a voice; let it be heard.

Book Review: Hazed and Chained


Welcome everyone to another big week on the Writer's Revolution. I am your host, the author of The Phoenix Blade, Andrew Hess. Today we will be reviewing Hazed and Chained by Raine Storm

Synopsis:
Walking home from Cheerleading practice Stephanie never could have known what was coming next. Abducted and tortured at the hands of a sadistic man wanting revenge for the hazing of his only daughter, Stephanie fights to survive, hoping to make it out alive and in time for Prom, her heart being her only key to survival. Can she force herself to love someone so dark and twisted or will she become his prey?


Rated 2 out of 5

Review:

I normally do not review anything that falls below three stars, but found this book to be an exception. At the beginning of the book, you knew what you were getting. A young girl was kidnapped and tortured at the hands of a sadistic man seeking retribution for the hazing of his daughter. It started out as a quick read and remained so throughout the book. That was the good part. As you continue reading the story, you find many of the chapters to be a bit repetitive. From a technical standpoint, I was bothered by the constant use of the words girth and sex to describe someone's body parts as there are more creative ways to get the point across. I also was not a fan of how everything was written in the present tense even when describing events of the past making them seem like they were happening at that moment instead of the character thinking about it. Finally I reached the end of the book to find  twist ending that changes the whole plot of the book. I am typically a fan of plot twists or twist endings, but found this one to be poorly chosen as it was left without any real explanation. I was deeply disappointed by the book and think the author could have done a much better job with the story if the technical errors were fixed and prepared the reader for a twist ending.




Here is the link for Hazed and Chained on Amazon.com if you would like to check it out.
http://www.amazon.com/Hazed-Chained-Raine-Storm-ebook/dp/B00K227XV0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1408558254&sr=1-1&keywords=hazed+and+chained

and grab your free copy of The Phoenix Blade: Project Justice
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/462530
And remember to rate and review the books on Amazon.com. Everyone has a voice; let it be heard.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

The Fall By Stephen Cost


The Writers Revolution proudly presents the cover reveal and synopsis for Stephen Cost's new book, The Fall.




 
THE FALL Synopsis:

For thousands of years, Death walked behind the dark veil of the living, waiting to ferry the dead. That is, until the day that Death took a life for pleasure rather than duty. On that day, the first Reaper fell to Earth. Now, Reapers live among us, craving the taste of death, forcing them to kill to satisfy their immortal hunger.

Giles Reid fell more than 300 years ago starving for the taste of death, only to find himself drowning in a sea of the living and blinded by a hunger that forces him to kill. In the centuries since his fall he has tried to be more human, desperate to live a life that makes up for what he is and the wrong he has done. Driven by his guilt over killing, he has chosen to feed only on evil; humans that have never been a threat to him but who are always a danger to others. That is, until the day he tries to feed on a human as strong, fast and cunning as himself; a human who, it turns out, has been hunting him. Now he is being pursued by the very evil he has fed on for centuries, embroiled in a deadly cat-and-mouse game, where friends and other Reapers connected to him are simply pawns on a chessboard waiting to be sacrificed. Giles is left with a choice, save the life of the women he loves, the daughter of his mentor, or betrays her for his own survival.

To save the woman he loves, Giles will have to be the monster he is.

 


Stephen Cost was born in Wexford Ireland and raised in a small seaside town not far from Dublin.  From a young age he would spin dark tales and write them down for his own amusement.  At the age of 13 he moved from his home in Ireland to America and his love of dark American cinema took root.

He passes his free time, when not writing, by reading horror and fantasy genre novels in addition to watching science fiction and horror movies.

He graduated from University with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology.  A computer engineer by trade, he specializes in integrated system services and uses the knowledge gained from his degree to write emotionally captivating urban fiction.

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Cover Reveal-The Fall by Stephen Cost

 
For thousands of years, Death walked behind the dark veil of the living, waiting to ferry the dead. That is, until the day that Death took a life for pleasure rather than duty. On that day, the first Reaper fell to Earth. Now, Reapers live among us, craving the taste of death, forcing them to kill to satisfy their immortal hunger. Giles Reid fell more than 300 years ago starving for the taste of death, only to find himself drowning in a sea of the living and blinded by a hunger that forces him to kill. In the centuries since his fall he has tried to be more human, desperate to live a life that makes up for what he is and the wrong he has done. Driven by his guilt over killing, he has chosen to feed only on evil; humans that have never been a threat to him but who are always a danger to others. That is, until the day he tries to feed on a human as strong, fast and cunning as himself; a human who, it turns out, has been hunting him. Now he is being pursued by the very evil he has fed on for centuries, embroiled in a deadly cat-and-mouse game, where friends and other Reapers connected to him are simply pawns on a chessboard waiting to be sacrificed. Giles is left with a choice, save the life of the women he loves, the daughter of his mentor, or betrays her for his own survival.
To save the woman he loves, Giles will have to be the monster he is.
Stephen Cost was born in Wexford Ireland and raised in a small seaside town not far from Dublin.  From a young age he would spin dark tales and write them down for his own amusement.  At the age of 13 he moved from his home in Ireland to America and his love of dark American cinema took root.
He passes his free time, when not writing, by reading horror and fantasy genre novels in addition to watching science fiction and horror movies.
He graduated from University with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology.  A computer engineer by trade, he specializes in integrated system services and uses the knowledge gained from his degree to write emotionally captivating urban fiction.
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Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Character Interview: Mike Santangelo



Mike Santangelo has been the best friend to Andrew Lancaster for nearly ten years. He's been a loyal friend, the comedic centerpiece and the muscle for the group known as the Revolution. Unlike Lilly, Mike volunteered to stand beside Andrew when the Benefactor coerced him to join  "covert operation" called Project Justice. But why volunteer for something like this?

Mr. Santangelo, please tell us a little about yourself.
Sure, but no need for formalities. You can call me Mike. With me, what you see is what you get. I love to have fun, hang out with friends and spend my weekend nights at the Ace of Spades.

Speaking of friends, you have been friends with Andrew Lancaster for quite some time. Tell me, how did you two meet?
We met in the beginning of High School. At first I thought he was some nerdy looking kid and could copy off of him if need be. He was this shy kid that kept to himself. Then he overheard me talking about what happened on Monday Night Raw and jumped into my conversation. I was about to snap at him for jumping into my conversation, but the kid knew his stuff. Our whole friendship started because of that one conversation. From that point forward, we talked every day and a few months later started hanging out on the weekends.

I'm sure growing up through high school together you both share a lot of fond memories. What would be the one that sticks out the most in your mind?
There's too many to choose from. There's the time I told our teacher I could teach the class better than he could, came in the next day wearing a suit and did just what I said I would do. There was the time we cut school together and came back just before he was supposed to take a test, found out we were locked out of the school and decided to climb in through another classroom window just so he could get to his class. There was the time we wore giant sombreros to class to take our finals.

You seem like you guys like to have a good time. Have you always been a bunch of class clowns?
I've always been like this. I'm the kind of guy that just likes to sit back and have fun.

So with that being said, why volunteer to work with the Benefactor? What were your reasons for giving up a life of partying for being on the run?
I wouldn't say I volunteered for it. I knew Andrew had made up mind about getting revenge for his mother's murder and wasn't going to get in his way. So I decided the best thing I could do for him was to stand by him, have his back while we were on the run and do whatever was necessary to keep us alive and out of jail.

But that wasn't your only reason for going along with everything; was it? In fact you wanted justice for something that happened back in your senior year of high school; didn't you?
That's not something I want to get into right now. The events of that night and what went down in Florida were things I can't take back or erase from my mind.

Fair enough, but can you take me back to what you were thinking during those few days and nights you spent camped out in that Florida motel?
I thought a lot of things. I didn't know how the Benefactor expected us to pull off the missions without being caught. I thought about confronting the people I once considered friends. But most of all, I wanted revenge for what they did to me and for all the pain they put me through.

Do you feel what you did was justified?
Once I had the proof I needed, yeah it was.

One last question before you go. If you never chose to go on the run with Andrew and Lilly, what do you think you'd be doing right now?
I probably would've kept going to school for my Master's Degree in History while substitute teaching. But you never know; I might've ended up doing stand-up with all the stories I have.

Thank you Mr. Santangelo. It has been a pleasure meeting you. If you would like to hear more about his time on the run with his friends, Andrew Lancaster and Lilly Henderson, grab a copy of The Phoenix Blade: Project Justice now available on Amazon.com and Smashwords.com


The first book in The Phoenix Blade Series, Project Justice is now available for free on Smashwords. Pickup your copy now to get ready for the Awakening
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/462530

Monday, August 18, 2014

Amy Neftzger Interview






Short Bio: Amy Neftzger published her first fiction book Conversations with the Moon in 2003. Since then she has published books for both children and adults, including All that the Dog Ever Wanted, Bedtime Stories for Dogs, Bedtime Stories for Cats, Leftover shorts, Confessions From a Moving Van, The Orphanage of Miracles, and The Ferryman. She lives in Nashville with her family and pet gargoyle Newton.

Long Bio:Amy Neftzger (born June 23) is an American researcher and author who has published fiction books, non-fiction books, business articles, and peer review research. Her works have reached an international audience.

Amy was born in Illinois and graduated from Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. She received her bachelors degree from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida and her Masters in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She graduated from both Universities with honors.

She has written numerous business and journal articles, but her fiction works have been the most commercially successful. In 2003 she published Conversations with the Moon, which was also translated into Korean and published in South Korea. In 2005 she collaborated with her husband, guitarist Tyra Neftzger on a children's book called "All that the Dog Ever Wanted." The book was designed to introduce children to jazz music at an early age and included a CD sampler of jazz tunes. In 2007 she worked as an editor on a business fable called "The Damned Company." She's also written "Confessions From a Moving Van" and "Leftover Shorts."

In 2013, Amy released her first Young Adult book called "The Orphanage of Miracles." The sequel to this book, "The Orchard of Hope" is scheduled for release in June of 2014, and The Ferryman (adult fiction) is scheduled for release in October, 2014.

Author Links - The link for any or all of the following...








Book Genre: Middle grade fiction/ fantasy
Publisher: Fields of Gold Publishing, Inc (Imprint Fog Ink)
Release Date: June 23, 2014




Book Description:


Hope is never gone, but it can be eaten alive. “


A quest to save hope.

A kingdom under a spell.

A wizard in training.

A gargoyle with a sweet tooth.


The sequel to The Orphanage of Miracles is filled
with engaging characters, magic, adventure, and
unusual circumstance. It’s a story that will
both entertain and inspire the reader.


Kelsey, a strong-willed and high spirited young girl, embarks upon another adventurous quest - this time to save hope, which is being stolen from the orchard. While the kingdom is still under the spell of the evil sorcerer who distorts reality in order to gain control, the king begins training someone who he believes can ultimately defeat the sorcerer: a young boy named Nicholas. Revisit some of your favorite characters or meet them for the first time in this volume.


Excerpt:

Hope is never gone. But it can be eaten alive, and thats exactly what was happening in the orchard. The king had told them about the problem before, but the problem wasnt going away. In fact, the problem was getting bigger and becoming critical, and the king was certain that Kelsey could help. She was excited about the trip and looking forward to the journey to the orchard, wherever that might be and however long it would take.
It wasn’t as if Kelsey hadn’t enjoyed the past 18 months of training with the king’s army. The battle conditioning had been a wonderful experience for her, but now she was ready for action. Too much time spent in one place had made her restless. When the king first mentioned the quest, Kelsey had jumped up out of her seat with excitement.
How do we save hope?” Kelsey asked with undisguised eagerness. After an awkward pause she sat down again and waited for an answer. Her fingers gripped the top of the thick walnut table where she was seated in the king’s study. Every wall in this room was covered with bookshelves from floor to ceiling, except for the places where there were windows, which also stretched the height of the room.
That’s a question to which we do not yet have an answer. It’s a bit of a tricky situation,” the king said as he smiled. He was a tall figure with broad shoulders and flowing red hair. Although he ruled this land and was respected by his opponents in battle, Kelsey often thought about him as something of a father figure. His stature conveyed his strength, but his eyes and his smile hinted at the tenderness that Kelsey always saw in him. Of course, she had known him under different circumstances before she knew he was the king. In fact, he had been traveling in disguise and appeared to be a small mute orphan that Kelsey had attempted to help. Only later did she learn his true identity.
Why don’t you simply fence the orchard?” asked Nicholas, who was a young boy about the same age as Kelsey. He sat upright in his chair, as if paying attention to a lesson.
I wish the solution were that easy,” the king replied solemnly, “but we don’t fully understand the extent of the situation. Implanting obstacles, such as a fence, will solve the problem only if it’s a simple one. However, this issue is complicated.”





Schedule

August 11 - Introduction at VBT Café Blog

August 14 - Guest Blogging at IndieWriterReviews

August 14 - Spotlight at Cherry Mischievous

August 14 - Guest Blogging at Coffee, Books, Art

August 14 - Guest Blogging at Mythical Books

August 16 - Interviewed at Deal Sharing Aunt

August 18 - Guest Blogging at Debbie Jeans

August 18 - Interviewed at Writer's Revolution

August 20 - Author Interview at Storyteller-SK Gregory

August 26 - Review & Guest Blog at My Life, Loves and Passions

September 1 - Review & Interview at That's What She Read

September 5 - Guest Blogging at Lori's Reading Corner

September 5 - Guest Blogging at Blue Books and Butterflies





Interview with Amy Neftzger

Let’s get to know you a little more. Tell us a about yourself.

I live in Nashville, TN and have been writing for over 15 years. I’ve published both fiction and nonfiction, but fiction is my first love. I have a husband (who is awesome, by the way), two teenage children, a dog, and a pet gargoyle.

 

What inspired you to write?

I’ve been a writer since I was a child, so I feel like I was pre-wired to write and tell stories.

 

Tell me a little about your book. (Title, plot)

The Orchard of Hope is set in a fantasy world where en evil sorcerer has distorted reality and people find it very difficult to know what’s real and what isn’t. Many of the people don’t know that they’re under the spell, which makes it more powerful. To make things worse, wolves are stealing the kingdom’s hope by devouring it just as it ripens. The kingdom must recover the hope in order to overcome the spell.

 

How did you come up with the story?

The story is really an allegory about how some people try to take hope away form others, as if there’s a limited supply.

 

Tell me about your main character. Who is he/she, what makes them special to you?

I have two main characters. Kelsey is a young girl who’s a bit hot-headed at times and is training to be a soldier to fight the war against the evil sorcerer. At the same time, Nicholas is a young boy who is training to be a sorcerer. He is just beginning to discover his talents in this book.

 

Who has been your greatest writing inspiration?

I’m a huge reader, so there are many authors I admire. J.K. Rowling is probably the biggest inspiration in this series because the target age/ audience is similar.

 

Now a little more about you:

 

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you bring (excluding family, laptop, or writing utensils)?

First of all, I’d bring a wide brimmed hat because I sunburn very easily.  I’d also want to bring a camera to take some cool photos of whatever I could find (for as long as the battery lasted). I would love to have a good book - one that I’d like to read over and over again. I can’t imagine being without anything to read.

 

We find out the world is going to end tomorrow. How do you live your last day?

First of all, I would eat chocolate until it made me throw up. Then I think I would spend the time with my family just goofing off. Maybe we’d go on a shopping spree and buy all sorts of fun things just for kicks. I might fly to New York and try that $10,000 dessert since I’d never have to pay the bill :)

 

If we were to make a movie of your life. Who would play the part of you?

Emma Watson (Probably because I secretly want to be Hermione).

 

Tell us 5 random things about yourself.

I love the color green.

I like to travel with my gargoyle.

I’m happily married to the love of my life.

I’m a movie junkie.

I prefer brown shoes over black.

 

What are the three places you have always wanted to visit but have not yet?

Tokyo.

Russia.

Egypt.

 

Okay, crystal ball time. Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?

Still writing. Hopefully on a new series :)

 

Do you have any questions for me?

What’s your favorite book of all time and why is it your favorite?

My favorite book has to be the complete works of Edgar Allen Poe, because he was so dark and mysterious with his writing style and still kept you on the edge of your seat. I loved his works and the complete series gave me everything in one book. 

Where can our readers find you? (Please provide links for everything Twitter, Facebook, Blog, Website etc).






http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Neftzger/e/B004VGUPNG/