Wednesday, December 7, 2011

CSFF Blog Tour: Corus the Champion by D. Barkley Briggs

Hey fellow bloggers, this month for the CSFF blog tour we are touring on a book called, Corus the Champion by D. Barkley Briggs. It is book two of the epic, Legends of Karac Tor series.

 He was once the greatest champion in the land.
Then he disappeared.


With Nemesia's defeat, the Barlows have helped turn the tide in the Hidden Lands. But the victory is short-lived. An even greater evil stirs in the north with a fierce new army bent on destruction. As the twins, Gabe and Garret, discover their own special powers, a thin thread of hope emerges: long ago, a fabled king was rescued from death on our world and hidden on Karac Tor. Who is he?

Each brother has their part to play. Hadyn must travel north to warn the land barons, which leaves Ewan with a bitter choice. Will he sacrifice what is most precious to discover whether Corus lives? Even more important, if Corus is alive, can he wake the Sleeping King of legend...before it's too late?



~About the Author 
Dean Barkley Briggs is an author, father of eight, and prone to twisting his ankle playing basketball. He grew up reading J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lews, Patricia McKillip, Guy Gavriel Kay, Stephen R. Donaldson, Ursila K. Leguin, Susan Cooper, Madeline L'Engle, Terry Brooks, Andre Norton and Lloyd Alexander (just to name a few)...and generally thinks most fantasy fiction pales in comparison. (Yes, he dabbled in  sci-fi, too. Most notably Bradbury, Burroughs and Heinlein).

After losing his wife of 16 years, Briggs decided to tell a tale his four sons could relate to in their own journey through loss. Thus was born The Legends of Karac Tor, a sweeping adventure of four brothers who become enmeshed in the crisis of another world and along the way, must find their courage, battle overwhelming odds, face their pain, and never quit searching for home.

In God's timing,
beauty and joy arose in the real world, too. Briggs remarried a lovely redhead named Jeanie, who previously lost her husband in an auto accident. Together with her four children, their hands are quite full, and they spend each day grateful for their eight blessings.

~My Review 
Now I haven't read all of this epic book... so crazy busy around the holidays and this past week has been rather hard for me... I didn't finish it like I planned on. I can tell you though, that I have highly enjoyed what I have read. I'm not going to do my full review until I finish the whole book... it for sure deserves it! (My next post in a few days will be a full review) For now I'll say great characters, unique epic story line... a different blend and twist to the story of King Arthur, and the author's style of writing is nice... I haven't read book one, but I definitely plan on getting it. I think I would enjoy this even more if I had read book one first... I knew the story line and all, but I know I missed out on a few things.The book itself is rather cool too! AMG publishing keeps getting better with their covers. The books name, along with the authors name are lifted, giving it a nice feel. The swords hilt is also popped out and the spine looks pretty in your book shelf. Ha, ha, I know don't judge a book by it's cover. ;-)

Since my review is short here is something some of you might enjoy.
Below is a great post from the author himself from his wonderful blog http://deanbriggs.com it gives you a total different understanding to his fun names in his book series. I love creating my characters names :-)

WriterTips: A Primer on Names in LoKT (Legends of Karac Tor)

For any novelist, many factors go into choosing a good name for each character, including: Culture or ethnicity, Physical appearance, Personality, Temperament, History, and Rank within the story. These comprise the broad swath of identity which a name is meant to convey. Sometimes, an author will want to run counter to stereotype with a name that intentionally defies the conventions. Even so, the character “Maximus” is unlikely to be a shy, effeminate pacifist of eastern origins, with nothing but a small role in the latter part of the story. Rather, he’s likely to be the brawny warrior/general from an imperialistic nation who’s probably stern, short-tempered, has two broken bones at any given time, and is perpetually threatening to take over the whole story.
As a linguist and scholar of ancient languages, Tolkien was unmatched in name selection, creating evocative new words that imprinted so deeply in the reader’s mind it soon seemed hard to imagine that character being called by any other name. I generally determine names in one of two ways: phonetically or visually. They must strike the right tone and have the right texture or nuance, either to pronounce or to read, though preferably both. There must be balance and meter between syllables or words. One word or two? Or three? If there is an ethnic implication, the tone must suggest something larger than the name itself. This applies to place names, given names, object names, etc. Let me give you some examples from The Legends of Karac Tor:
Faielyn is a city of romance and charm. Dinglet is not. The former, with extra vowels and lack of hard consonants, has an air of sophistication and mystery. Dinglet sounds trivial by comparison. Likewise, Aventhorn is a fortress of classic strength, while Stobnotter is more appropriate to a remote village. Rake Hightower runs the risk of caricature, I’ll admit, but it sure beats Mort Frogswallow as the arrogant High Constable of the King’s army, unless of course the constable was not heroic, but sniveling and political. And what do you do when you need to name a new monster? Choices abound, but orcs, trolls and vampires are a bit used up. Care must be given to creating a totally new class of monster. Choosing a new word that sounds like an old word can help. What about Goths? For those who remember 8th Grade History, you might recall that the Visigoths and Ostrogoths were fierce Germanic hordes that swept across Europe as part of the destruction of Rome. Such a term, bearing history within itself, may already trigger an image in the mind of the reader, even if they don’t know why. By association, my Goths benefit, as brutal marauders. There’s a connection for non-history buffs, too. Drawing on the term “gothic,” I’m able to borrow something familiar from our language–suggestive of graveyards and creepy medieval architecture. By extension, a Goth is something fearful. Nobody would fear the Pinklets. I don’t care how large their army or sharp their teeth, it won’t sell. The name is too disconnected from the thing it is meant to embody. Name and identity should have synergy, so that every time the name is read, it reinforces principle character attributes without having to restate them. Flogg makes a good gnome name, as might Worr and Wurt and Gorker. But for my taste, Dag Boneswallow or Hali Throckmorton start to try too hard, become too cumbersome. And Tubby just doesn’t work at all, unless the story is told with a winking sense of humor! Finally, there’s Nemesia, the witch who is stealing the memory and identity of an entire generation. Can you identify her name? It’s a combination anagram: Amnesia (forgetfulness) and Nemesis (enemy). Pretty cool!
Over the course of five epic books, The Legends of Karac Tor unfolds the story of four brothers—based on my own sons—thrust into the crisis of another world in the wake of their mother’s untimely death. It is thoughtful, gritty, magical fiction. If you read it, let me know what you think. But here I must part with the Bard. While “a rose by any other name” would smell as sweet, would you want to smell it—would you even give it a chance—if it it were named Scumleaf

 


To purchase, Corus the Champion, go to -  http://www.amazon.com/Corus-Champion-Legends-Karac-Tor/dp/0899578640/ 
 

Check out the author's fun website  - http://hiddenlands.net/index.php?Itemid=49&id=19&option=com_content&task=view





To find out more about this great book and author, check out the other tour members for this months tour.  
http://ofbattlesdragonsandswordsofadamant.blogspot.com/ Gillian Adams
http://noahsreads.blogspot.com/"> Noah Arsenault 
http://rbclibrary.wordpress.com/"> Beckie Burnham 
http://morganlbusse.wordpress.com"> Morgan L. Busse 
http://csffblogtour.com/"> CSFF Blog Tour 
http://carolcollett.wordpress.com/"> Carol Bruce Collett
<http://tweezlereads.blogspot.com/"> Theresa Dunlap 
http://projectinga.blogspot.com/"> April Erwin 
http://vicsmediaroom.wordpress.com/"> Victor Gentile 
http://www.thehahnhuntinglodge.com/"> Nikole Hahn 
http://realmofhearts.blogspot.com/"> Ryan Heart 
http://www.brucehennigan.com/"> Bruce Hennigan 
http://www.christopherhopper.com/"> Christopher Hopper 
http://www.spoiledfortheordinary.blogspot.com/"> Jason Joyner (He is doing a giveaway for book three)
http://www.molcotw.blogspot.com/"> Julie 
http://carolkeen.blogspot.com/"> Carol Keen 
http://krystisbooks.blogspot.com/"> Krystine Kercher 
http://mharvireads.blogspot.com/"> Marzabeth 
http://www.shannonmcdermott.com/?page_id=189"> Shannon McDermott 
http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Miller 
http://www.questwriter.blogspot.com/"> Eve Nielsen 
http://www.sarahsawyer.com/blog"> Sarah Sawye 
http://reviewsfromtheheart.blogspot.com/"> Kathleen Smith 
http://www.mindsinger.com/"> Donna Swanson 
http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/inklings/"> Rachel Starr Thomson 
http://christiansf.blogspot.com/"> Steve Trower 
http://frederation.wordpress.com"> Fred Warren
 
In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  I was not required to write a positive review. Thank you AMG.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Having it all = Heartache? My thankful post.

This year a famous singer named Amy Winehouse, died. This 27 year old lady died from a drug overdose. Now I was not a fan of Amy Winehouse, but I did know who she was. Her sad song "Rehab" played like crazy on the radio and even TV. This lady had a known problem with heavy alcohol and drugs. Okay, so where am I going in all of this? Will this lady had fame, talent, money, and a whole lot of life in front of her, yet she was abounding in misery. How can you seem to have it all yet, be so... unhappy? The truth is she didn't really have anything at all. She had everything this world could offer, but she didn't have, nor want what truly mattered. Loved ones, loving friends, and most of all a savior. I don't know if any of you that are reading this post doesn't know who the loving savior is? I must tell you He and He alone is the only one that will ever make you feel whole and be happy. Fame and money might make you pretty happy for a time, but in the end you will want more. Think... do most of the famous people you see seem happy to you? They are human just like you and I... with the same feelings and in need of the same thing.
Times are hard right now. With a bad economy and a world sort of falling apart, yet there is still so much to be thankful for!  Look around you and think hard about it. BIG things and little things. Mine is my savior who has made me whole and opened my heart to what truly matters. My beautiful family, loving friends, and the air I breath.

What is it that greatly matters in your life? 
What truly makes you happy? 
What are you thankful for?


Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. ~Psalm 37:4
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ~Jeremiah 29:13
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.~ Matthew 7:8

~*~Happy Thanksgiving~*~

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

A killer game...

Do like winning things? How about killing threads? Check out this fun game over at this beautiful blog http://theravenquill.blogspot.com/2011/11/big-seven-zero-and-gory-murder-but-no.html
It's fun and the prizes are great! May the odds be ever in your favor ;-)

Friday, November 11, 2011

Blog Update and Book Review on, Rise of the Dibor, by Christopher Hopper.

I updated my blog and gave it a whole new look... what do you all think of it? There is still a few areas that I will be updating such as my art and book page. I'm also going to start posting a few times a week, so please feel free to stop by every now and then.
Today I would like to share with you all my review on a wonderful book called, Rise of the Dibor by Christopher Hopper. This is book one to the epic trilogy, The White Lion Chronicles. My most popular blog post on my blog is my first review on, The White Lion Chronicles, back in 2009. This review is going to be a little different because Christopher Hopper just self published with his new company along with several other big authors at www.spearheadbooks.com a second edition of Rise of the Dibor. It's much greater than the first edition, with better editing, all new material such as a great character guild, an Author Page on his journey of writing his book, and a new map. It also has a different page layout, which gives it a neat feel. Rise of the Dibor, is a beautiful story and will always be one of my all time favorites. It's very unique, moving and a tale to not be forgotten. His characters are lovely and detailed, even though he has many, you bond to every one. His story is passionate and very touching... this book is fiction, but you will be greatly moved by the spiritual themes. If you crave a book full of heart, with lots of adventure, characters that you can feel and love, and a deep message, then I guarantee you will greatly enjoy, Rise of the Dibor.

About the book... now tell me this doesn't make you want to read it ;-)
  Read the story that turned children into warriors, and warriors into legends. The Dairne-Reih haven’t been seen in Dionia for generations—their kind and their king, Morgui, banished long ago from haunting paradise. But when creation shows signs of deterioration, the kings of the seven realms converge in the sacred Gvindollion gathering to arrive at one inexplicable conclusion: Morgui has returned. In the hopes of entrusting Dionia’s brave history and perilous future to a generation that has never known war, the kings decide to raise up their young sons as an elite group of warriors, known only as the Dibor. Gorn, legendary hero of the First Battle, is commissioned to teach the Dibor the art of war, leading them on a four-year adventure on the Isle of Kirstell. It is Luik, son of Lair, who soon emerges as the warband’s spirited front man. But he is not the only one of his peers to grow in power; his dear friend Fane discovers hidden abilities among the Mosfar under the mentorship of Li-Saide of Ot, while Princess Anorra finds that her lifelong tutor knows as much about combat as he does about etiquette. There is little time for the Dibor to enjoy the satisfaction of graduation, however, as a sinister plot is discovered to dethrone Dionia’s kings and flatten the capital city of Adriel. The Dibor are summoned to war, along with the rest of Dionia’s fighting men. It is before the gates of Adriel Palace that Luik and his army face Morgui's prince, Valdenil, as well as the unending ranks of the Dairne-Reih.

About the Author:
 Christopher Hopper is a true modern-day renaissance man. A published author and co-author of numerous novels, he is also a recording artist, pastor, visual designer, and restaurateur. His prolific writings in both book and blog form have captured the imaginations of loyal readers around the world. He is a founding member of Spearhead Books, and lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their four children in the 1,000 Islands Region of northern New York. Find out more at www.christopherhopper.com  facebook.com/christopherhopper and follow him on Twitter: @find_ch

To purchase the new editon of Rise of the Dibor go to https://www.createspace.com/3618531
or  http://www.amazon.com/Rise-Dibor-White-Lion-Chronicles/dp/1463519664/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1320678027&sr=8-2
It will be available on Kindle within a few weeks

Book Two The Lion Vrie, will be out soon, and the very anticipated epic final Athera's Dawn, will hopefully be out for Black Friday.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Having a puppy is a lot like having a baby...

My family and I haven’t had a dog in the last seven years and wow did I forget the joy they give and how much energy you must give back... especially with a puppy. Having a puppy is a lot like having a baby... at least that’s what I imagine it to be, though I have no children of my own. You are constantly having to watch them, because the world is new to them and they want to check everything out. Their minds are like a sponge, constantly learning something new and processing it through their growing brain. They sleep, eat a lot, and go just as much. When they are awake you must give them your full attention or they’ll let you know by cries of look at me and play with me. They trust you, depend on you, and automatically love you. A whole bunch of responsibility, but well worth it.
This is our new Australian Shepherd puppy, Wyatt. Welcome to my family, I believe you are going to be a great companion. Hope we have many years of fun.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

CSFF Blog Tour: The Monster in the Hollows by Andrew Peterson

 This months CSFF blog tour is on book three of the wonderful series, The Wingfeather Saga by the talented Andrew Peterson.
 
Janner Wingfeather’s father was the High King of Anniera. But his father is gone. The kingdom has fallen. The royal family is on the run, and the Fang armies of Gnag the Nameless are close behind.
Janner and his family hope to find refuge in the last safe place in the world: the Green Hollows—a land of warriors feared even by Fangs of Dang. But there’s a big problem. Janner’s little brother-heir to the throne of Anniera-has grown a tail. And gray fur. Not to mention two pointed ears and long, dangerous fangs. To the suspicious folk of the Green Hollows he looks like a monster.
But Janner knows better. His brother isn’t as scary as he looks. He’s perfectly harmless.
Or is he?
Join the Wingfeathers on an adventure filled with mystery, betrayal, and sneakery in a land of tasty fruits. There’s a monster on the loose and the truth lurks in the shadows.

A short Biography on the author by the author~

Hey, folks. If you're just discovering me or any of my work, it can be a little confusing because there are several facets to it. 
I write songs. I also record them to these cool things called CDs and put on concerts around the country. (And beyond! To my great delight, I get to play in Europe every year or so.)
I write books. Right now I'm writing four-part fantasy series for young readers called the Wingfeather Saga. I just published the third book, The Monster in the Hollows. I also illustrated some of the pictures (but not the coolest ones). The last book in the series should be published by next Christmas.
I'm the proprietor of the Rabbit Room., a community of songwriters, authors, and artists interested in storytelling, faith, and fellowship.
• I'm a proud member of the Square Peg Alliance, a happy band of singer/songwriters who write together, tour together, and eat together.
• I've been married for fifteen years to Jamie, and we have three sweet children: Aedan (12), Asher (11), and Skye (8). We live in a magical place we call the Warren, just south of Nashville.
The common thread in all this is my love for Christ and his Kingdom, my belief in the power of story and art, and my need for family and community. If I had to boil it all down, I'd say this: I want to use my gifts to tell the truth, and to tell it as beautifully as I can.
 To read a bigger and more detailed biography go here and scroll down to the first picture... it's a great story, I recommend checking it out!

 ~Here is my Praise on the book:
The Monster in the Hollows, is another grand adventure. The book alone is beautiful... yes, I do judge a book by it's cover. The story is fun, unique, mysterious, at times scary, and very touching. Andrew Peterson is a great storyteller. I'm looking forward to book four! If you love adventure you will love The Wingfeather Saga, but beware of the Toothy Cows.

 To Purchase the book please go here - https://store.rabbitroom.com/books/the-monster-in-the-hollows
If you don't have book one and two there is a great deal for all three, plus you get some Toothy Cow teeth! Now you can't say no to that!  https://store.rabbitroom.com/books/the-wingfeather-bundle-includes-toothy-cow-teeth    And of course you can purchase them at Amazon

Check out the fun Series Web site -  It has a creaturepedia, tons of beautiful illustrations, contest, and a page to send in your fan art... http://www.WingfeatherSaga.com/
 

For more information on the Author vistit his  Web site  -  http://www.andrew-peterson.com/


And Don't forget to see what the other tour members for this months tour are saying about, The Monster in the Hollows :-)
http://ofbattlesdragonsandswordsofadamant.blogspot.com/"> Gillian Adams
http://tessbissell.wordpress.com/"> Red Bissell
http://quiverfullfamily.com/"> Jennifer Bogart
http://www.oerkenleaves.blogspot.com/"> Thomas Clayton Booher
http://rbclibrary.wordpress.com/"> Beckie Burnham
http://csffblogtour.com/"> CSFF Blog Tour
http://www.scificatholic.com/"> D. G. D. Davidson
http://in--and--out.blogspot.com/"> Cynthia Dyer
http://www.amberfrench.blogspot.com/"> Amber French
http://www.thehahnhuntinglodge.com/"> Nikole Hahn
http://realmofhearts.blogspot.com/"> Ryan Heart
http://fantasythyme.blogspot.com"> Timothy Hicks
http://www.spoiledfortheordinary.blogspot.com/"> Jason Joyner
http://www.molcotw.blogspot.com/"> Julie
http://carolkeen.blogspot.com/"> Carol Keen
http://www.shannonmcdermott.com/?page_id=189"> Shannon McDermott
http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Miller
http://thebookfae.wordpress.com"> Mirriam Neal
*http://www.questwriter.blogspot.com/"> Eve Nielsen
http://www.bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com/"> Joan Nienhuis
http://dragonbloggin.blogspot.com/"> Donita K. Paul
http://www.sarahsawyer.com/blog"> Sarah Sawyer
http://www.chawnaschroeder.blogspot.com/"> Chawna Schroeder
http://www.bluerosesheart.blogspot.com/"> Tammy Shelnut
http://reviewsfromtheheart.blogspot.com/"> Kathleen Smith
http://www.mindsinger.com/"> Donna Swanson
http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/inklings/"> Rachel Starr Thomson
http://www.epictales.org/blog/robertblog.php"> Robert Treskillard
http://frederation.wordpress.com"> Fred Warren
http://christian-fantasy-book-reviews.com/blog/"> Phyllis Wheeler
http://www.theravenquill.blogspot.com/">  Nicole White
http://finishedthebook.blogspot.com/ l"> Rachel Wyant

 
In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  I was not required to write a positive review.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

CSFF Blog Tour: Residential Aliens


 This months CSFF Blog Tour is on Residential Aliens, a Christian speculative fiction online magazine created by Lyn Perry. It seems to be mostly Science fiction with a different twist. This months Issue is free so if you are wanting some different speculative fiction or would like to see what  Residential Aliens do, go download this months issue.


Take a look at the Web site there are a lot of cool stories to read  -  http://www.resaliens.com/
Check out the editor’s blog - http://residentialaliens.blogspot.com/
Visit the editor's Lyn Perry’s personal blog - http://blogginoutloud.blogspot.com/



See what the other tour members for this months tour are saying about Residential Aliens :-)

http://noahsreads.blogspot.com/"> Noah Arsenault
http://www.christiansciencefiction.blogspot.com"> Brandon Barr
http://www.oerkenleaves.blogspot.com/"> Thomas Clayton Booher
http://reviews.splashdownbooks.com"> Grace Bridges
http://rbclibrary.wordpress.com/"> Beckie Burnham
http://jeffchapmanwriter.blogspot.com/"> Jeff Chapman
http://csffblogtour.com/"> CSFF Blog Tour
http://carolcollett.wordpress.com/"> Carol Bruce Collett
http://www.scificatholic.com/"> D. G. D. Davidson
http://magnuskir.wordpress.com/"> Dean Hardy
http://cloakanddaggerfiction.blogspot.com"> Katie Hart
http://realmofhearts.blogspot.com/"> Ryan Heart
http://www.brucehennigan.com/"> Bruce Hennigan
http://www.spoiledfortheordinary.blogspot.com/"> Jason Joyner
http://carolkeen.blogspot.com/"> Carol Keen
http://www.shannonmcdermott.com/?page_id=189"> Shannon McDermott
http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Miller
http://blogginoutloud.blogspot.com/"> Lyn Perry
http://www.sarahsawyer.com/blog"> Sarah Sawyer
http://jessicathomasink.com/blog/"> Jessica Thomas
http://christiansf.blogspot.com/"> Steve Trower
http://frederation.wordpress.com"> Fred Warren
http://christian-fantasy-book-reviews.com/blog/"> Phyllis Wheeler

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Nightwing Studios needs your help :-)

Check out my extremely talented friends from Nightwing Studios... they make the most epic book trailers. Right now they are asking for help to fund their newest and most largest project yet. Please spread the word and if you can, donate... even if it’s just a little :-) There is some pretty cool things you can get too for donating. To donate you follow the link below the video! Kickstarter is designed to give people a way to back their projects. You back it by clicking the big green button on the right-hand side and follow the instructions from there.


Nightwing Studios is at it again! Last year we brought you the award winning To Darkness Fled Trailer. This time, we want to make the From Darkness Won Fan Trailer even better.
How can we achieve such a feat? The answer can be summed up with one word.
You.
You can help us make our vision of the From Darkness Won Fan Trailer a reality. No project can be cool without funding, so when you back the project, YOU are the Dude/Dudess spreading your cool to the whole world. When you see your name in the credits, you will be able to say, “I helped make this!”
You want to know more about the project and the people doing it, right? Although it is defined as a short film, the project is also called a book trailer. For those of you still wondering what a book trailer is, don't worry. Einstein never even knew. A book trailer is a short film based off a book. It’s like a movie trailer, except for a novel. One awesome thing about book trailers is that they are really new. A new genre of video! How cool is that?
The From Darkness Won Fan Book Trailer based off the third installment in the award winning Blood of Kings series by author Jill Williamson. It's the last book in the series, a soaring conclusion to a trilogy that goes beyond EPIC. If you haven't read them yet, pick the first book up on Amazon or BN.com. We can't recommend this series enough.
The trailer will include:
  • Live action acting
  • Matte painted/CG backgrounds
  • Animated hyper-realistic CG creatures
  • Custom hand made costumes
  • Carefully constructed sets complete with props and studio lighting
  • Complete re-dubbing. We record voices and sound effects in our own recording studio to ensure the highest audio quality possible.
  • Breathtaking cinematic awesomeness. Our camera can kick your camera in the LCD. (a camera we did not have in filming the To Darkness Fled Trailer or the above promo video)
  • A custom composed EPIC film soundtrack!
As you can see, this is no cheap project. Hence why we need you. With all this incredible stuff (camera not included as part of the budget), you may ask why we have such a small budget? Because we're mostly teens, we've found ways to do awesome things resourcefully ... with the same big budget quality.
Talking about that, what exactly does your support go to? Nice question!
What we will use the funding for:
  • Costume material.
  • Actor Props.
  • Weapons. (Want to see any epic swordfights?)
  • Armor.
  • Makeup.
  • Set props.
  • Torch oil! (Fire looks freakin' cool on-screen!)
Any money that goes beyond the goal will be used for respectively:
  • Camera Track
  • Camera Jib Boom
  • Nicer lenses
  • More costume stuff allowing us to have more extras on-screen!
  • More cool armor and props!
If you are interested in helping, check out the cool rewards we have for supporters on the right!
Thank you, from Nightwing Studios!

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Always in my heart...


The tide recedes but leaves behind
bright seashells on the sand.
The sun goes down, but gentle
warmth still lingers on the land.
The music stops, and yet it echoes
on in sweet refrains.....
For every joy that passes,
something beautiful remains.

Miss you dearly Brittany
Today I honored all the fun, beautiful, memories of you.
You would be so proud over your family, especially your sister Johnny
She has your brave heart and has such a beautiful spirit.
Always in my heart~
Brittany Rakosky
Nov. 12,1984~Aug. 7,2008

Saturday, August 6, 2011

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST for a family friend...

 
I'm posting this URGENT PRAYER REQUEST for a family friend of ours whose daughter, Sara, was in a horrible car accident two nights ago. She's in intensive care, with severe head injuries and little to no brain activity. She is the daughter of Kathy Cunningham, my Aunt Kim's, high school, best friend. Kathy, has been a part of our family for many years and has always been there for my Aunt Kim. Sadly, tomorrow is the 3rd anniversary of my beautiful cousins Brittany's death... my Aunt Kim's daughter. This is so very difficult on so many levels. Please pray for a miracle. She is Kathy and Curtis's only child, and still so very young with her whole life out in front of her. I believe in the power of prayer and that is why I've shared this with you all, so PLEASE take the time and send up a prayer for Sara and her family.
Thank you!
God's care,
~Ryan

Thursday, July 28, 2011

What do you choose?

 
An old Cherokee told his grandson, "My son, there is a battle between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies, & ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy, & truth." The boy thought about it, and asked, "Grandfather, which wolf wins?" The old man quietly replied,  
"The one you feed."

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

CSFF Blog Tour: Darkness Follows by Mike Dellosso



This months CSFF Blog Tour is on a book called Darkness Follows, a Christian supernatural horror by Mike Dellosso.



Sam Travis is a man on the brink of despair . . .

Out of a job and feeling worthless, Sam Travis is awakened one night to the sounds of a Civil War battle raging outside his Gettysburg home. But it’s the middle of the night, and the summer reenactments are long over. A search for the source brings him to an old journal by a Union soldier . . . written in his own handwriting.

When more of the mysterious writings appear and begin to mimic Sam’s own life, his search for the truth puts him on a downward spiral that eventually drives him from his wife, his daughter, and his home–and into an evil plot that could cost many lives, including his own.




~About the Author ( I got this from his website... this is his own words)

They say God works in strange and mysterious ways. Well, I’ve seen both firsthand so you won’t hear any disagreement coming from my corner of the world.

One of the most common questions I’m asked is: How did you get into writing? My birth as a writer was as sudden and soul-wrenching for me as was my birth as a Christian, my adoption into the family of God.

I was born a writer in September of 1998. My brother-in-law, Darrell, wrecked his motorcycle and landed himself in the Shock Trauma unit of the Albany Medical Center in New York. In a life-threatening coma, numb to the world around him, Darrell slept while my sister and the rest of our family prayed for God to spare him. It was during that time of wrestling with God, questioning His motives and sovereignty, accusing, begging, and waiting, that I first took up a pen and journaled my feelings, poured my wounded soul onto paper. Funny thing is, up until that point I had hated writing. Had no interest in it at all. But through my journaling I found a freedom I had not known before. You see, all my life I have struggled with stuttering. Sometimes my tongue gets so tied in knots and my throat so tight I can’t put together a complete sentence without faltering. But through writing I discovered I could say exactly what was in my heart, I could let the words flow on paper without a single hitch and with perfect fluency. For the first time in my life I felt free when it came to communication. And I loved it. The feeling was exhilerating. I felt like a mute man touched by the healing hand of Jesus, the words in my mind and heart finally set free to spread their wings and soar.

After Darrell recovered I didn’t stop writing. Writing had become a part of me, grafted into my being like a transplanted organ. I wanted it, desired it, needed it. I wrote about every inspirational thought that bloomed in my head, saw metaphors and word pictures in ordinary life, crafted stories from mundane activities. My imagination was working overtime, so alive and acute that stories sprang up like wildflowers.

I’ve been writing ever since, working to hone my craft and develop my ability. I had to learn to harness my enthusiasm and imagination, manage my time, and choose which projects to pursue over others. But I’m so thankful that God really does work in both strange and mysterious ways. Using the tragedy of a life-threatening accident He planted in me a desire to explore that Godlike attribute of creativity thorugh the written word.

To God be the glory . . .

I highly recommend that you read his Foreword in Darkness Follows... it is very touching.


~My review
I haven’t read all of Darkness Follows yet, been too busy and it’s definitely not a night read :-) But from what I have read I have enjoyed. It seems to have a great premise and the authors writing does pull you in... perhaps too much. My heart and fears came out in my too quiet house at night while reading this... no relaxing night reading with this book. Since I can't give you a complete review on it I highly recommended that you check out what the other tour members are saying about it.
http://noahsreads.blogspot.com/"> Noah Arsenault
http://tessbissell.wordpress.com/"> Red Bissell
http://www.oerkenleaves.blogspot.com/"> Thomas Clayton Booher
http://rbclibrary.wordpress.com/"> Beckie Burnham
http://www.hiddenvalleysimplicity.com"> Melissa Carswell
http://www.kcreviews.blogspot.com"> Karri Compton
http://csffblogtour.com/"> CSFF Blog Tour
http://thescatteredstones.blogspot.com/"> Chris Deane
http://in--and--out.blogspot.com/"> Cynthia Dyer
http://www.thehahnhuntinglodge.com/"> Nikole Hahn
http://cloakanddaggerfiction.blogspot.com"> Katie Hart
http://realmofhearts.blogspot.com/"> Ryan Heart
http://www.613media.com/"> Bruce Hennigan
http://www.spoiledfortheordinary.blogspot.com/"> Jason Joyner
http://www.molcotw.blogspot.com/"> Julie
http://carolkeen.blogspot.com/"> Carol Keen
http://inaekyo.blogspot.com/"> Inae Kyo
http://www.shannonmcdermott.com/?page_id=189"> Shannon McDermott
http://methodistcorner.net/"> Allen McGraw
http://shenandoahdawn.blogspot.com/"> Shannon McNear
http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Miller
http://www.bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com/"> Joan Nienhuis
http://www.sarahsawyer.com/blog"> Sarah Sawyer
http://reviewsfromtheheart.blogspot.com/"> Kathleen Smith
http://jessicathomasink.com/blog/"> Jessica Thomas
http://christiansf.blogspot.com/"> Steve Trower
http://frederation.wordpress.com"> Fred Warren
http://christian-fantasy-book-reviews.com/blog/"> Phyllis Wheeler

If you would like to purchase this book please go to
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1616382740


Check out the authors website.http://mikedellosso.wordpress.com/
He has a contest going on right now for teens on this book.

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. Thank you Realms!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Psalm 57:1... God is good.


My prayers go out to those in Joplin, MO and surrounding areas hit by the tornado. The images and videos coming out are shocking and horrifying. However I am confident Americans in Joplin will rise to the occasion, and out of the devastation we'll see incredible stories of hope... God is good all the time!

BE MERCIFUL and gracious to me, O God, be merciful and gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge and finds shelter and confidence in You; yes, in the shadow of Your wings will I take refuge and be confident until calamities and destructive storms are passed. ~Psalm 57:1

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

CSFF Blog Tour : The Ale Boy's Feast by Jeffrey Overstreet




This months CSFF blog tour is on a book called, The Ale Boy's feast by Jeffrey Overstreet. It is the final to the great "AuraliaThread" series. Here is my review that I did on Ravens Ladder the second to last book to the series. Below is my praise on this wonderful series and a little information on The Ale Boy's Feast and the author.
First thing first... you must read this series in order or you will be lost. I learned that the hard way from reading Ravens Ladder before book one and two.




Book 4 of the Auralia Thread series

The king is missing.
His people are trapped as the woods turn deadly.
Underground, the boy called Rescue has found an escape.

Hopes are failing across The Expanse. The forests, once beautiful, are now haunted and bloodthirsty. House Abascar's persecuted people risk their lives to journey through those predatory trees. They seek a mythic city - Abascar's last, best hope for refuge - where they might find the source of Auralia's colors.

They journey without their king. During a calamitous attempt to rescue some of his subjects from slavery, Cal-raven vanished.

But his helper, the ale boy, falling through a crack in the earth, has discovered a slender thread of hope in the dark. He will dare to lead a desperate company up the secret river.

Meanwhile, with a dragon's help, the wandering mage Scharr ben Fray is uncovering history's biggest lie - a deception that only a miracle can repair.

Time is running out for all those entangled in The Auralia Thread. But hope and miracles flicker wherever Auralia’s colors are found.



About the Author~


JEFFREY OVERSTREET
is the author of four novels
and a “memoir of dangerous moviegoing.”
He is also a magazine editor, a speaker, and a blogger.
Check out his awesome bio here



My praise for the series~
Jeffery Overstreet's, "AuraliaThread" series is epically beautiful. He has created a marvelous story with a cast of unforgettable characters in a dark, yet glories world. It's deep, touching, and won't let you go. You don't want to miss this series!

In conjunction with the CSFF Blog Tour, I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. Thank you!

To buy The Ale Boy's Feast go to -
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9781400074686

To find out more about the author and his books go to his awesome web site - http://lookingcloser.org/fiction/


Please check out what the other tour members for this months tour are saying about, The Ale Boy's Feast by Jeffrey Overstreet :-)
http://ofbattlesdragonsandswordsofadamant.blogspot.com/"> Gillian Adams
http://tessbissell.wordpress.com/"> Red Bissell
http://www.splashdownreviews.blogspot.com"> Grace Bridges
http://rbclibrary.wordpress.com/"> Beckie Burnham
http://morganlbusse.wordpress.com"> Morgan L. Busse
http://valeriecomer.com/"> Valerie Comer
http://csffblogtour.com/"> CSFF Blog Tour
http://sjdeal.blogspot.com"> Shane Deal
http://thescatteredstones.blogspot.com/"> Chris Deane
http://in--and--out.blogspot.com/"> Cynthia Dyer
http://www.povbootcamp.com"> Andrea Graham
http://cloakanddaggerfiction.blogspot.com"> Katie Hart
http://realmofhearts.blogspot.com/"> Ryan Heart
http://www.613media.com/"> Bruce Hennigan
http://www.spoiledfortheordinary.blogspot.com/"> Jason Joyner
http://carolkeen.blogspot.com/"> Carol Keen
http://www.momofkings.com"> Dawn King
http://inaekyo.blogspot.com/"> Inae Kyo
http://www.shannonmcdermott.com/?page_id=189"> Shannon McDermott
http://shenandoahdawn.blogspot.com/"> Shannon McNear
http://www.disturbingreviews.blogspot.com"> Karen McSpadden
http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Miller
http://www.questwriter.blogspot.com/"> Eve Nielsen
http://www.leastread.blogspot.com/"> John W. Otte
http://www.sarahsawyer.com/blog"> Sarah Sawyer
http://reviewsfromtheheart.blogspot.com/"> Kathleen Smith
http://www.mindsinger.com/"> Donna Swanson
http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/inklings/" Rachel Starr Thomson
http://www.epictales.org/blog/robertblog.php" Robert Treskillard
http://christiansf.blogspot.com/"> Steve Trower
http://frederation.wordpress.com"> Fred Warren
http://www.fantasyandfaith.com"> Dona Watson
http://christian-fantasy-book-reviews.com/blog/"> Phyllis Wheeler

Friday, May 13, 2011

Will you take up the Challenge?


There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.~Proverbs 18:24, NLT
"Loneliness is everywhere--many people feel cut off and alienated from others. Being in a crowd just makes people more aware of their isolation. We all need friends who will stick close, listen, care, and offer help when it is needed--in good times and bad. It is better to have one such friend than dozens of superficial acquaintances.
Instead of wishing you could find a true friend, seek to become one. There are people who need your friendship. Ask God to reveal them to you, and then take on the challenge of being a true friend."

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Happy Mother's Day




It's Mother's Day! Remember to do something special for your mom... tell her that you love her and thank her.

There is no love, like a mother's love,
no stronger bond on earth...
like the precious bond that comes from God,
to a mother, when she gives birth.
A mother's love is forever strong,
never changing for all time...
and when her children need her most,
a mother's love will shine.
God bless these special mothers,
God bless them every one...
for all the tears and heartache,
and for the special work they've done.
When her days on earth are over,
a mother's love lives on...
through many generations,
with God's blessings on each one.
Be thankful for our mothers,
for they love with a higher love...
from the power God has given,
and the strength from up above.