Creature-creature

Many of us, myself included, get our jollies from watching people run from creatures of many types - zombies, vamps, aliens - you name it (hey, it's not my hide on the line, right?). And while it's easier, maybe even more horrific, to see the scenes from a human main character... what about seeing all viewpoints from the creature? Sure, we've taken part in this role-reversal with Dracula and a handful of other host 'baddies' ... but really, what makes them so bad? Our societal views of 'us needing to be the top dog'? Point of view is everything in any situation. Will we always vote for the human? I would guess more often than not yes since we want our own race to continue on, figuratively of course since monsters don't exist, right (...)?

I think it's time for New York and Hollywood to pull out all the stops (and you self-published writer-types too) and create a creature that we sympathize with looking through said non-Homo sapien's eyes. Turn the tables on humanity! Get their emotions, their desires, their conflicts, and by the end of the book make me root for them!

While I've heard a few titles out there take this view, are there any out there that you've read/watched and would recommend? What creatures would you like to see be made in this light? Sasquatch? Peng? Dire wolf? Thunderbird? Other? Let's hear it!

Blurbs, News, and Freebies

Good day, readers. I hope your 2012 has been thrilling so far. Has everyone been keeping their resolutions? Hopefully one of them was to read more Variance stuff... hint hint, nudge nudge. Just sayin'. =)


So, 2012 here is already exciting. Our newest YA title, TORREIN: AGE OF FEAR by Shea Berkley, got a smashing review from Ashley L. Knight, author of FINS and FATHOM. Check it out:

"If you are tired of being afraid... then face your fear and break its hold on you."

Aye, 'tis an expression leaden in truth.

Torrein: Age of Fear wrapped its magical tendrils around me, teasing my imagination into fanciful visions - weaving dulcet, familiar tones into my sub-conscience. It wasn't until, bleary-eyed and starving from continuous reading, that I reached for a long drink of water and realized precisely of which imagery I was reminded - the epic scenes from the highly acclaimed trilogy, The Lord of the Rings.

No, it was not the fact that this captivating novel contained goblins, or elves, or even fairies alike - it was Berkley's lovely use of descriptive language that kept me enraptured. Engaging and colorful, Torrein's charms are sure to win the hearts of even the most jaded of readers. With lessons to be learned by the hero & Berkley's readers, this imaginative author wisely molds Torrein's tale, suiting it to the young & young at heart. Adventurous, innocent and meaningful, I simply could not put it down.

I am often saddened at the end of books that boast the chance of a sequel as they do not deliver a satisfactory ending. Such was not the case with this tale and I turned the last page with a smile I do not often admit.
I am greedy: I want the next book - not only for myself, but to read to my children. I venture to predict you will as well!

-- Ashley L. Knight, author of FINS and FATHOM

Also in the praise category, advanced praise for Q: AWAKENING by G.M. Lawrence (due out mid-March), has started to come in!

“G.M. Lawrence firmly stakes out his place as a master storyteller with Q: AWAKENING, a dark and treacherous journey to find an ancient relic that could change the course of mankind. Sometimes poetic, often gritty, always captivating, this international thriller is a skillfully crafted quest you won’t soon forget.”
-- Joe Moore, international bestselling co-author of THE PHOENIX APOSTLES

“Q Awakening is a new breed of thriller, captivatingly lyrical, but still packing double-barrels of adrenaline.”
-- Sean Ellis, author of DARK TRINITY: ASCENDANT

If you are a reviewer and would like to review either of these titles please let me know, e-copies are available for your enjoyment upon request.

Last, but certainly not least, Joseph Flynn, author of The PRESIDENT'S HENCHMAN, has put up a title on Amazon for free titled STILL COMING. Don't miss you chance to grab this! I know so many of you have read and loved TPH, DIGGER, The NEXT PRESIDENT, and so many other titles from Joe, so this freebie is a no-brainer.

Thanks for checking in!

Fat On Holiday Cheer!

Happy few days before the new year, everyone!

As the winter chill is beginning to affirm its grip upon us, we hope you have the time to wrap up snug in a blanket with your favorite e-reader and take a look at our newest title released today, Torrein: Age of Fear. While it is geared toward the YA community, it's a Fantasy-coming-of-age title that the whole family can enjoy like a Potter book. Bring forth the courage to defeat the evils among us! Be ready to meet ogres and fairies and a cast of other creatures (oh my!).

DESCRIPTION:

What if the only hope of saving a magical world depended on an ordinary boy?

Peace is not easily found in the divided kingdom of Taelyon; its mortals distrust anything magical; its wizards are indifferent to the suffering of others, and hate infects everyone. The battle for dominance is never ending. Yet, there is hope. A boy named Torrein. When magic is denied him, he's chased from his own village by those he once called friends. Torrein doesn't understand that his destiny is far greater than any he could have achieved if magic had been granted him. Who wants a destiny soaked in blood? All Torrein wants is what he can't have - to be with his family and friends.

To claim his rightful power, Torrein must calm his fears and reveal the real evil working to destroy Taelyon. It will be a fight till the end of the age to reclaim the freedom they’ve all been denied, and though it's hard for him to accept, it’s up to Torrein to protect those who have been deceived, and to make sure the evil in their midst doesn't kill them all.

Amazon • Smashwords (Nook/iBooks/Kobo/Sony)

As always, you can visit our special ebook page filled with the rest of our titles for you reading enjoyment. Who knows, if you stop by before New Year's Day 2012 and say hello I may give out a bit of holiday cheer for your new... or old, e-reader. I hope you all had a great holiday season and thanks for another amazing year.

--Stanley J. Tremblay & Variance Publishing

New Author Website To Check Out

Happy Wednesday, friends,

I just wanted to introduce you to Gary "G.M." Lawrence (everyone now... "Hello Gary."), and his newly designed website. I hope you take a few minutes to go over and check out this sharp piece of web art.

His first title in a trilogy, Q: The Awakening, will be coming out late winter/early spring next year, and from what I've seen and heard there is lots to be excited about. Here is the description to get your literary juices flowing:

A decade ago, Dr. Declan Stewart, once the world's foremost authority on ancient manuscripts, vanished from an obscure asylum in Damascus. On a winter's day shrouded in fog, he rose from his bed, walked out the door and disappeared. No one looked for him because no one cared. The assassins had made sure there would be no one left to care.

For ten years, Declan hides himself away on the isolated western coast of New Zealand's South Island, riding the towering waves of Ghost Ships break and trying to forget the past. Then on a bright summer's day, as the sun settles on the western horizon, a dying monk from an obscure Syrian monastery appears on the high cliffs and calls his name. It is then that Declan realizes nothing can save him from his destiny; that he will never escape his obsession with the elusive ancient manuscript known only as Q.

The message the old priest brings—of a cryptic letter of St. Paul and a parchment map leading to a lost desert temple—sends Declan hurtling back into a world he had vowed never to reenter. Confronting the demons of his past and the shadowy forces that would turn the power of Q to their own twisted ends, Declan enters a realm of danger, betrayal and death. And there, amidst chaos and peril, he finds not only the destiny he had sought to deny, but the love of a courageous Palestinian refugee and her fatherless son.

Let me know what you think of the description and if your interest has been grabbed. It sounds like one crazy thrill-ride to me!

Anthocon I

Greetings peeps,

This was quite the busy weekend as I spent Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday in Portsmouth, NH at AnthoCon, or Anthology 2011. A star-studded cast came out to lil' ol' New Hampshire to kick-off this Freshman event which gave it a fun atmosphere, but at the same time, was fairly well-organized for something brand new. Special guests included actor/author Michael Boatman (The Goodwife, Spin City), as well as authors Christopher Golden (Of Saints and Shadows), Rick Hautala (Nightstone), Brian Keene (Ghoul), Jonathan Maberry (Joe Ledger Series), Joseph Nassise (Eyes To See), and Gord Rollo (The Jigsaw Man), as well as a handful of other successful Hollywood-types, Eric Red (The Hitcher) and Stephen Susco (Grudge), and a handful still of other standout authors - what a list! Beyond that, something a bit more up my alley, were some great illustrators and artists including Michael Bailey, Joshua Belanger, Morbideus Goodell, Ogmios, Trevor Schubert and Susan Scofield.

While there were panels I went to, like readings from many of the authors above, a lecture and pour from Lucid Absinthe, and a few horror and speculative fiction talks, a lot of the weekend I spent talking to the folks and making new friendships. There are some truly amazing people out there who most of us just don't see, as the majority of the market is dominated by all the big fish... and well, who wants to talk about the guppie they caught when the guy next to you is throwing back marlins? Do yourself, your community, and literacy a favor and check out these local cons. You might be surprised at what you find. Just because it isn't San Diego ComicCon or BEA doesn't mean that there aren't worth while attractions.

Thanks to the Four Horsemen and Shroud Publishing for taking a leap and putting this on. See you next year!

Our First Audiobook!

That's right, friends, our first audiobook has finished the production phase and is in the final stages before being released to Audible.com, Amazon.com and iTunes! This is very exciting for us and we hope that you get to take the opportunity to join us in the excitement.

I'd like to thank Jeffrey Kafer for another great narration to match the rest of his titles (if you haven't heard him before, check him out!) and Rick Chesler in writing a great crime-technothriller on the open seas in Wired Kingdom.

Just for some fun, I know that Jeff has a large library of books he has narrated for so while we wait for Wired Kingdom to be officially released, what other titles has he done that you would recommend to others?

The Weekend Cometh

Can you believe another week has come and gone? For those of you who live in the Northeast, it has been a long week due to the historic Nor'easter that knocked out power for most (including me), some still being without since Saturday! Have no fear though, we are here to warm your minds and souls with some great reads.

First, Veteran's Day is coming soon, and with that in mind I hope you consider purchasing any and all titles of AJ Tata's THREAT Series, where proceeds from the book go to the Wounded Warriors/Metro DC fund. Being a retired general, he's seen what war can do, and we being sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, know that they should be getting all the help that they deserve. So go out and get the series today to help fund a cause that is so necessary to all who require assistance.

Sudden Threat, $2.99: Kindle - Nook - iTunes - Smashwords
Rogue Threat, $2.99: Kindle - Nook - iTunes - Smashwords
Hidden Threat $7.99: Kindle - Nook - iTunes - Smashwords
Threat Series Omnibus, $9.99 (all three in one big ebook): Kindle - Nook - iTunes - Smashwords

(Or find all but the omnibus in print at any online retailer or bookstore.)

Next, Here is a look at the final cover concept to the first of many Young Adult epic fantasy novels coming from Variance, TORRIEN: Age of Fear by Shea Berkley. Keep your eyes open for it as it should be available to buy very soon!


Last on the agenda would be another thrilling survey made by yours truly to get more input from our readers. It would be so very greatly appreciated if you would take a few minutes to click on a few multiple choice radio buttons and check boxes (and even a short answer question if you feel so inclined) to give us feedback on E-books and Other Reads. We rely on your data to be able to bring you the best fiction this indie publisher can in a format you desire. Thanks for your time and readership.

And as always, thanks for your overall support! Enjoy your weekend.