Tag: mythology

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Fiction Author

#IndiePrideDay Interview & Giveaway with author Jim McDonald @JimMacAuth #paranormal #myth

Greetings readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors and welcome to The ToiBox of Words. I’m your host Toi Thomas, author of Eternal Curse, and today I have a treat to share. A while back, I had the pleasure to interview a wonderful author named, James P. McDonald. A good time was truly had by all,, and here’s how it went down… And since today is Indie “Author” Pride Day, I’m also sharing an in-depth look at Jim’s book Unbound and Determined over at “Who is so you?” Be sure to visit my side panel or head over.

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Toi Thomas: Hi there James! It’s so awesome to have you here at the ToiBox Blog. I’m excited to learn more about you and your work.

James: Hello Toi.

Toi Thomas: So tell me, who is James P. McDonald?

James: I’m a business and technology consultant, and write urban mythology, professional development, tech, and business related material. I’m currently developing a Business 101 for Authors.

My fiction and some NF can be found at: http://www.jim-mcdonald.net/

Toi Thomas: Well before we dive into your special message today, let’s get to know you, the person inside the author.

Toi Thomas: What makes you geek out?

James: Space… The final frontier… I’m a big fan of space exploration and looking into using off the shelf technology to get us moving along this path even faster.

 

Toi Thomas: What was your favorite book or story, pre-teen years?

James: My favorite authors are still Heinlein and Asimov. If I had to go with a favorite book from those years, it would still be Stranger in a Strange Land, the unabridged version.

And yeah, I probably read it when I was too young.

Toi Thomas: In terms of interviews, whose brain are you just itching to scratch?

James: I’d love to talk to Nikola Tesla and find out why he couldn’t just be a little more capitalist. We’d be much further along technologically, and I believe would live in a much different world.

And I could have a death ray.

Toi Thomas: Now that we know a little more about you, the person, let’s learn about you, the author, and dive into your special message.

 

Toi Thomas: So whacha got for me today?

James: Unbound and Determined is the third in the Home Summoning series. The best description is Harry Dresden dropped into the world of “Good Omens” and Machiavelli is the editor.

Toi Thomas: So who’s starring in this 2-dimensional script read of Unbound and Determined?

James: My main protagonist is a wizard type who has had most of his power stripped away because of something that happened in his youth, and even he isn’t sure what happened, but a lot of people including his parents were killed. He’s on trial for his life, and trying to find out what really happened first.

The greater arc is the traditional demigod journey, and seeing if he can survive it.

Toi Thomas: What’s so special about this story that’s going to reel in the readers?

James: It’s fast, fun, and more than a little twisted. And where else can you visit Hellywood?

Toi Thomas: Past, present, future, is there a rhyme or reason to your writing?

James: I’m always working on several projects. If I’m not writing, I’m reading, I’m listening to podcasts. I’m talking to people. If I don’t have 30 notes a day about potential characters, events, or plots, it’s a slow day.

Toi Thomas: What author(s) has most influenced your writing? Why or how?

James: Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman have always been huge influences on me. They can write the darkest subjects with a light touch and humor.

Toi Thomas: Now this is where the questions get a little kooky; are you ready?

James: What do you want now? 😉

Wikipedia

Toi Thomas: If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?

James: Leon the Professional. It’s disturbing and a bit creepy, but there is a hopeful undertone in a dark world. Until the end.

Toi Thomas: When the soundtrack of your life is playing in your head, what songs express your glee and what songs bring out your rage?

James: Bagpipes can do it all.

Toi Thomas: Let’s play zombie urban survivor. What 3 things do you need to survive a blackout in Central Park the day zombies attack?

James: A rope, a machete, and a lighter. After that, it’s all a bonus.

Toi Thomas: What’s the most fun experience you’ve ever had, to date?

James: Seeing the nine pound abused and frightened dog we rescued become the 13 pound loving ball of fury he is today.

Toi Thomas: Last question of the day; here we go.

Toi Thomas: Not that you can see into the future, but in your opinion, what does the future hold?

James: More books, more speaking, and more consulting. I want to help entrepreneurs build businesses, whether it’s authors, artists, or tech geeks.

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Okay readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors, that’s all for today. Want more IndiePrideDay fun and giveaways? Check out this FB event. Be sure to follow this blog to see who will be visiting next time. Leave a comment below for a chance to WIN the ebook of Unbound and Determined. For more from James P. McDonald, check out these great links:

Website: Infinity Limited Group

Blog: Jim McDonald Author Page

Facebook: Jim McDonald

Twitter: @JimMacAuth

Purchase link for Unbound and Determined: Amazon.com

This has been a

interviewpic-toibox

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Categories
#BooktagsBloghop

#BooktagsBlogHop No. 4: The Woodcutter by Kate Danley #fantasy #YA

Booktagbloghop

The purpose of this blog hop is for readers and writers to share what they are reading, have read, are writing, or have written with others. This is not about promoting free or discounted books though some of those may be featured. This is about book lovers sharing what they love about books. This blog hop is about the Joy of Reading and the Joy of Writing with tags of your choosing and is hosted by me, Toi Thomas, the third Monday of the month. Learn more here.

This month’s optional theme is: New Year, birth, fresh start.

Excerpt from Chapter 78

The Grandmother and Red Riding Hood stopped at the base of a mighty oak tree whose gnarled roots ate the ground and whose grand trunk could only be surrounded if ten tall men stood hand in hand. There, the Grandmother and the child transferred the body to the earth.

They stood respectfully as the Woodcutter knelt at the side of his own being. A phantom tear slid down the Woodcutter’s cheek, and it fell, landing upon the earth.

The Woodcutter buried his face in his sleeves.

But where the tear touched, a small mushroom emerged, a mushroom of red with small dots of white on its cap. It stretched and yawned and shook off the dirt and then shrank back as another tear slid from the Woodcutter and landed wetly upon its head. It shook off the tear like a dog come in from the rain, and where the spray of the second tear landed, a second mushroom emerged, waking and shaking as another tear fell. Around and around the mushrooms grew, until the tears stopped and the Woodcutter looked up.

A circle of mushrooms gazed back at him from all sides, a circle of mushrooms grown into a complete faerie circle.

202 words from: The Wood Cutter © 2010 Kate Danley

My Thoughts

Before I get started with my spiel, let me first apologize. I took a bit of a digital cleanse in the last week or so and let a few things lapse. While I will continue this blog hop regardless of outside participation, I must admit that I didn’t promote this very much this month. I will rectify that for the next post and hopefully come up with a nice list of books to sample.

Now on to the book. I absolutely adored this book the first time a read it, which is probably why I felt the need to read it again. There are so many wonderful qualities to this story- a nice balance of the traditional mixed with twists and upgrades.

In this particular scene, there are several types of awakenings happening and beginning to happen. I won’t go into too much detail about the how and why because I don’t want to spoil it too much. In any case, in keeping with this month’s optional theme, I thought the “birth” or creation of mushroom circle was a perfect fit. I must also admit that when I first read this, the dancing mushroom scene, to the music of the Nutcracker, from Fantasia ran through my mind repeatedly. I felt like a child reading Peter Pan for the first time all over again.

So there, a bit of my perspective and a trip down memory lane. If you like fairytales, mythical lore, and fairy magic, please give the Woodcutter a try. Aside from being a wonderfully told story with amazing world building, it has a subtle and positive message to it.

Find this title at Amazon | Goodreads

What are you currently reading? I’d love to know.
Next blog hop post date will be February 15, 2016.

Be sure to hop around and see what others are reading so you may continue to pile onto your TBR list.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Categories
#BooktagsBloghop Excerpts

#BooktagsBlogHop No. 3: Strength (Mark of Nexus Book 1) by @CarrieAButler #fantasy #amreading

Booktagbloghop

The purpose of this blog hop is for readers and writers to share what they are reading, have read, are writing, or have written with others. This is not about promoting free or discounted books, though some of those may be featured. This is about book lovers sharing what they love about books. This blog hop is about the Joy of Reading and the Joy of Writing with tags of your choosing and is hosted by me, Toi Thomas, the third Monday of the month. Learn more here.

This month’s optional theme is: Winter, cold, or holidays.

Excerpt from Chapter 7

I stood up and hastily buttoned myself into my purple, clearance-special pea coat. It pleated at the waist and had big, funky buttons down the front. I’d gotten it for thirteen dollars after Christmas and wore it like a victory medal.

I slung my bag over my shoulder and merged into the line for the door. Go, people. I hate loiterers. It’s one thing to have a legitimate reason to hold up the flow of traffic—like, maybe someone is on crutches or something. That’s fine. Well, not for them. It sucks for them. But pausing to have a conversation in the doorway? I blew out an aggravated sigh. Un-ac–cep–ta-ble.

“A little impatient today?” a smooth voice cut in, interrupting my thoughts.

Was someone talking to me? I cast a quick glance over my shoulders and found a pair of amused brown eyes taking in my every move. My cheeks burned. “Uh, yeah, I guess.”

The guy grinned, studying me like he had some kind of divine insight. Laugh lines creased the corners of his eyes, and his warm gaze smoldered. “And it’s only the first day of class, sweetheart. How are we going to make it through fifteen weeks?”

I blinked. Was this guy for real? Who starts up a conversation like that out of nowhere? I wasn’t shy or anything, but the familiar language was throwing me off. “I guess we’ll have to manage.”

237 words from: Strength (Mark of Nexus #1) © 2013 Carrie Butler

My Thoughts

I’m making a point to get this review posted soon. I just finished this book and really enjoyed it. I will definitely be seeking out the rest of the series. As for why I shared this piece today, there are a few reasons.

1. I think this may be classified as YA, but for me, it has a more New Adult feel to it. The college banter here doesn’t feel as bothersome as what I usually read in YA, which is why I don’t read it much. In any case, much of the story reminds me of my own college experience, which I haven’t often felt when reading stories set in a college scene.

2. This passage goes great with the winter and cold theme for this month. This whole installment of this series takes place in winter and some of the scenes made me cold just reading them.

3. I like the way this character thinks. She’s very down to earth and her inner monolog isn’t annoying.

4. I like the originality of this story. It’s always surprising to me when I come across a story that feels truly unique. It’s hard for stories these days to be completely original, but when a story doesn’t come off cliché and there’s something I haven’t figured out by the end- I’m impressed.

Lastly, this passage is important to me because of how the story plays out at the end of this installment. I figured out something here, but I also completely missed something too. I hope you read it for yourself and see if this scene stands out once you’ve read it.

Find this title at Amazon | Goodreads

What are you currently reading? I’d love to know.

Next blog hop post date will be January 18, 2016.

I’ll be setting up a new linky soon and emailing it to past participants. Thank you to those of you who joined me on this journey so far, whether you’re continuing or not.

Be sure to hop around and see what others are reading so you may continue to pile onto your TBR list.


Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords