New book trailer for Vargrom: Modrad's Exile

Since embedded video files always seem to cause problems, the trailer can be viewed at the YouTube link below. 

https://youtu.be/nAbcMA-NvhI

The next installment of Vargrom: Modrad's Exile

Here's the next installment in the first chapter of Vargrom: Modrad's Exile. 

Chapter One

            “Modrad,” a muffled voice called out.

            The dwarf thought it was a dream, but the pain felt real enough. Putting a hand to his head, Modrad rolled onto his back, letting out a groan. He felt the unforgiving wood beneath him, the noticeable discomfort still no match for the throbbing inside his skull. Modrad lifted his eyelids, but the intruding light of a nearby lantern forced them closed again.

            “Modrad!” The visitor put fist to door this time.

            His eyes shot open but not because of the banging. Something moved up through his throat, demanding to be released. Modrad quickly turned over and got to his knees. The dwarf vomited, the contents spattering the floor. Modrad never did make it to bed after arriving home from the tavern. That much had become certain.

            A dwarf rarely needed incentive to drink, but the prior day’s events begged to be washed away, so Modrad had taken on that challenge with a vengeance. Somewhat relieved, he managed to get his feet under him, though he stood with a clear lack of confidence. Another bout of door pounding ensued.

            “Enough already,” Modrad rumbled.

            Brushing past a clothes line, he made his way to the front of the house. Modrad grabbed a lantern, which hung along one of the walls, and opened the door. A male, one old enough to be his father, stared back at him.

            “Onoir Lightfoot?”

            “I know,” Onoir said. “It’s been too long.”

            Modrad gasped. “Not long enough if you ask me.” He turned his back to Onoir and walked toward the fireplace.

            “May I come in?”

            “You might as well,” Modrad replied, snatching a stool and taking a seat. “You’ll only wake everyone by staying out there, and I have enough problems to deal with.”

            Onoir entered, gently closing the door behind him, the elder’s face becoming more apparent in the light. Heavy wrinkles weighed the skin beneath his beady, blue eyes, and Onoir’s once youthful beard, shaven only at the chin, had turned a whitish gray. He even required a wooden staff to help him walk.

            “Why are you here?”

            “I have news.”

Vargrom Cover Reveal and Giveaway!

And here it is...the cover reveal for the e-book version of Vargrom: Modrad's Exile, which will be released by MuseItUp Publishing on February 23. Starting today and continuing each Wednesday leading up to the book's release, I will be holding a special giveaway. All you have to do is answer a simple multiple-choice question. All entrants will win something (advanced e-book copy, print copy, and/or audio book), and everyone who answers correctly will have a chance to win a bonus prize. This week's bonus prize is a $25 Amazon Gift Card. I will reveal the correct answer and announce the bonus prize winner next Monday. In the meantime, I will be posting a new excerpt from the first chapter every Monday and Friday, so look for the next installment in a couple of days. If you're ready, this week's question is below. 

Which type of character do you think will make an appearance in the book?

A) Elf
B) Ogre
C) Orc
D) Gnome

Vargrom: Modrad's Exile will be released on February 23

My latest book, Vargrom: Modrad's Exile, will release on February 23 by MuseItUp Publishing. This is a fantasy novelette focusing on the early days of Modrad the dwarf, which is a character in my young adult fantasy novella, The Fire King. The print version (cover above by the talented Jeffrey Kosh) is already available through Amazon and other sites. The audio book is also available through Amazon/Audible. I've been very hush about this because I wanted to have everything come together before fully promoting the book. 

I will be revealing the e-book cover soon and, in celebration of its upcoming release, I will be giving away copies of all versions (print, e-book, and audio)...so stay tuned! In the meantime, I will be posting excerpts from the first chapter of the book. Below is the first installment. 

Chapter One

            “Modrad,” a muffled voice called out.

            The dwarf thought it was a dream, but the pain felt real enough. Putting a hand to his head, Modrad rolled onto his back, letting out a groan. He felt the unforgiving wood beneath him, the noticeable discomfort still no match for the throbbing inside his skull. Modrad lifted his eyelids, but the intruding light of a nearby lantern forced them closed again.

            “Modrad!” The visitor put fist to door this time.

            His eyes shot open but not because of the banging. Something moved up through his throat, demanding to be released. Modrad quickly turned over and got to his knees. The dwarf vomited, the contents spattering the floor. Modrad never did make it to bed after arriving home from the tavern. That much had become certain.

            A dwarf rarely needed incentive to drink, but the prior day’s events begged to be washed away, so Modrad had taken on that challenge with a vengeance. Somewhat relieved, he managed to get his feet under him, though he stood with a clear lack of confidence. Another bout of door pounding ensued.

            “Enough already,” Modrad rumbled.

            Brushing past a clothes line, he made his way to the front of the house. Modrad grabbed a lantern, which hung along one of the walls, and opened the door. A male, one old enough to be his father, stared back at him. 

Sherry Alexander's "Search for the Red Ghost" is now available!

Search for the Red Ghost, a historical fiction children's book released by Sherry Alexander and MuseItUp Publishing this past week, has been getting great reviews and is currently in the Top 50 on Amazon for Children's U.S. Western Historical Fiction. I had the pleasure of doing a trailer for this, and I hope you'll check out the book. 

"Thirteen-year-old Jake Thrasher’s mother is dead, and the only clues left by the beast that killed her are a few strands of red hair and a set of plate-sized tracks. 

When his Army Scout father refuses to hunt it down, Jake takes matters into his own hands. Leaving the safety of his small ranch, Jake follows a sparse trail through an inhospitable desert filled with snakes, wolves, grizzlies, renegade Apache, and the ever-present threat of death. Will he find his Red Ghost? Or, will he succumb to the inherent dangers?"

Book Trailer:

https://youtu.be/yHq6yC_8WbI

Amazon Page:

http://www.amazon.com/Search-Red-Ghost-Sherry-Alexander-ebook/dp/B019NSK8BK/ref=zg_bsnr_155182011_3

The Landfill...A young adult dark fiction story

I just completed the book trailer for another story of mine, The Landfill. This is a young adult dark fiction short story that I wrote a few years ago. 

"Billy, a high school senior, has lost a lot in the past year, including his younger sister, Sara. Billy lacks excitement and purpose in life until his curiosity takes him and his best friend, Connor, to an old, abandoned landfill along the river. Connor would rather forget the experience, but Billy can’t help but feel invigorated by their findings. Taking it upon himself to uncover the mystery, Billy finds his life coming full circle – but is that a good or bad thing?"

Book Trailer:

https://youtu.be/9rhSrOFkSro

Amazon Page:

http://www.amazon.com/Landfill-Kevin-Hopson-ebook/dp/B00JG98R3S/ref=la_B006XVDMT6_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1452909567&sr=1-6

Three Miles Below...A dramatic short story

I've had the pleasure of highlighting many authors' books and making book trailers for them over the course of the last several weeks, and I plan to continue doing this. However, I took a brief break to make a trailer for my short story, Three Miles Below. It's an older story of mine, but I feel it's a solid piece despite the fact I've grown significantly as a writer since then. Below is some more information if you have any interest. Some people like my twist at the end...but others not so much. :)

"When an earthquake hits, Mackenzie and two of his co-workers are forced to take shelter in a refuge chamber three miles below ground, uncertain of the damage around and above them. Weighing their options, the three must decide whether to stay put or take their chances climbing to the surface, though making it to ground level is just half of the battle."

Book Trailer:

https://youtu.be/Ypf6fbjxbcQ

Amazon Page:

http://www.amazon.com/Three-Miles-Below-Kevin-Hopson-ebook/dp/B009YFX84M/ref=la_B006XVDMT6_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1452781291&sr=1-12

Zombie Rapture...A different kind of zombie novel by Stuart R. West

Today I'm highlighting "Zombie Rapture" by Stuart R. West. It's a unique zombie novel with action, laughs, scares, and tragedy. Plus, these aren't your normal zombies. They're smart undead who can talk and outwit the living. You'll have to read it yourself to discover the twist Stuart puts on the living dead. 

"Life is good for Hunter Wright. He's just about to graduate from high school and he's found true love. Just in time to lose her. Because the Rapture's begun and those in his path, living and dead, stand in his way of finding her. And it's not the Rapture the faithful have been expecting either. Someone failed to tell the dead they’re not in Heaven."

Book Trailer:

https://youtu.be/EPsUbHDelGA

Amazon Buy Page:

http://www.amazon.com/Zombie-Rapture-Stuart-R-West-ebook/dp/B00VNCGVJI/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1452472486&sr=1-4&keywords=stuart+r+west

The Turtan Trilogy...A science fiction adventure and romance series by John B. Rosenman

Today I'm highlighting "The Turtan Trilogy" by John B. Rosenman. This is a science fiction adventure and romance series, and you can purchase the combined trilogy in a great bundle deal. Below is a description of the series and a link to the book trailer. 

"The Cen, a cruel alien race, has attacked humanity and only one man can save it. Turtan, an Inspector of the Cross Empire, travels in suspended animation to distant worlds in search of a weapon or device that can defeat the enemy and end the brutal five-thousand-year war. Because he travels in frozen sleep, this elite agent is technically four thousand years old and has outlived many lovers and generations of his children. It is a painful and terrible burden, but duty comes first and always he must move on. His mission is rendered even more difficult by his own leaders who sometimes oppose his selfless quest to save humanity. 


In Inspector of the Cross, Book 1, Turtan confronts the deadly, mysterious Godstone on Sircon IV and then travels fifty years to meet Zontena’s giant, game-obsessed birds. Next, he must journey one hundred ninety years to the lethal center of the enemy empire, somewhere no human has gone before


In Kingdom of the Jax, Book 2, Turtan travels across the universe. On Turtan 8 he discovers a strange and unique alien race who name the planet after him, and on Lauren he tries to rescue a human colony imprisoned by vicious Cen. 


In Defender of the Flame, Book 3, Turtan returns to a glorious homecoming at the Academy where he graduated four thousand years before. He believes he has finally found a method to deliver the human race from the enemy. 


The question is, can his solution work, and will his superiors permit him to use it?"

Book Trailer:

https://youtu.be/UhJlkTZ2QJc

Amazon Buy Page:

http://www.amazon.com/Turtan-Trilogy-Full-length-Sci-Fi-Romance-ebook/dp/B015S48FFE/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1452262308&sr=1-1&keywords=john+b+rosenman 

War Unicorn...a young adult fantasy novel by S.L. Carlson

Today I'm highlighting War Unicorn, a young adult fantasy novel by S.L. Carlson and MuseItUp Publishing. I really enjoyed making the book trailer for this one.

"Reg is content working in his family’s apple orchard—or as content as a fourteen-year-old magician can be digging holes—when he unearths an antique ring and releases a rude unicorn. 

She claims she belongs to the king, but after her long imprisonment, she can’t tell Reg which king that might be. Reg promises to bring her to the capital and deliver her to the palace, and suddenly a simple three-day trip turns into the adventure of a lifetime for a boy who dreams of freely practicing his magic.

War is building on his country’s borders, and even with the help of Reg’s new friend Iggy, and Gwen, the general’s daughter, it’s going to take all the courage—and magic—Reg has to find the unicorn’s rightful king. 

Promises will be made, the bonds of family and friendship will be tested, and war will change everything. 

Can an apple farmer and one rude war unicorn save their country from the approaching enemy?"

Book Trailer:

https://youtu.be/ItHcStOBC2w

Amazon Buy Page:

http://www.amazon.com/War-Unicorn-S-L-Carlson-ebook/dp/B00MV8VDYG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1451747020&sr=1-1&keywords=war+unicorn