FREE PROMO FOR DREAM WEAVER?

Fall's a-Fallin'!

Howdy ya'all! I hope your Fall is going well. I'd bet the trees back in the east of the US are starting to turn amazing colors. Not so much here in Spokane, WA. Just a little nip from old Jack Frost. Summer is my favorite season, and then Fall, because of the city turns all shades of red, gold, orange and brown. Reminded me of this: 

(excerpt from Dream Weaver)

Trees wore shimmering nacreous cloaks that rivaled the grandeur of their summer dress greens and fall’s autumnal oranges, reds and yellows. 

 Feel free to post your pics of fall in your neighborhood! I'd love to see them!!

I do have some exciting news to share! For those of you haven't gotten a copy of my books for whatever reason, I'm offering the entire Dream Weaver Trilogy FREE on Amazon this week. That's right! All three books will cost a whopping $0! And, I've listed my short story Tears of Adamas for free as well. Here's a brief synopsis of each book:

DREAM WEAVER  

Vampires sparkled through the spotlight; then the zombies shambled through. Now, it's time for a new immortal. Dream Weaver.

Emari Sweet understands waking up in a cold sweat, heart pounding and screaming in fear. Night terrors plague her after the death of her parents, and she strives for control over the darkness that threatens to swallow her. But a monster lurks in the shadows, and his subtle hints of brutality explode in a violent attack. Emari is plunged back into the depths of fear. 

Nickolas Benedetti is a Dream Weaver…an ancient, arcane and almost immortal race descended from the biblical Nephilim with the power to command memories and dreams. Each night, her screams tear another piece of his heart and he plunges heart-first into Emari's tormented dreams to save her. But something dark and nefarious has followed him to her little cottage in the woods. His magic can save her from the night terrors, but does he have the power to protect her from the real, living, breathing nightmares that threaten to dismantle her sanity?

Dream Weaver is a young adult (YA) paranormal fiction novel set in the snowy Pacific Northwest.

ROCK STAR 

Have you ever dreamed of being a rock star? Emari Sweet has...and now she's living the dream...the life of a rock star in an elaborate memory weave constructed by Dream Weaver, Sabre James. But her rock star world crashes around her and she returns to reality and the memories of Nick and his betrayal. Now, Nick seems to be hiding something dark and painful that torments his soul.Thomas, the Nightmare Wraith, returns to haunt their minds and twist their dreams. Even Eddyson, Em's trusty teddy-beagle pup can sense the Wraith's presence. And Thomas is not alone. He’s brought a friend with him this time....Emari faces her own mortality at the hands of Sabre's longtime nemesis bent on vengeance for the death of his beloved sister. Immortality and magic unearth treasures and secrets that some would rather keep buried. And the biggest secret of all could destroy everything.

BREAKING NORMAL 

The story of Dream Weavers Emari Sweet, Nickolas Benedetti and Sabre James brings the terror to a boil and spills over as their arch nemesis, Thomas, the Nightmare Wraith (Rephaim) drafts Em's friends, Jesse and Ivy into the feud, and lures her pup, Eddyson into peril.

Since her parents were killed in a crash, the only thing Em has wanted is a ‘normal’ life, but the magic and mayhem of  her new life has spiraled her entire world out of control. ‘Normal’ doesn’t even exist for her anymore. She struggles through the stages of grief, and her anger at Nick’s betrayal. Rage embitters her heart, and she’s not sure she will  ever be able to trust this man she’s grown to love.

Using her new Caphar gifts and her magical spider Ari, Em works with her friend/cop Molly and Spokane Police to solve cold cases, and memoryprint new ones. Emari hones her body and abilities to become a daunting challenger in the battle against the Wraith. But will Nick and Em's relationship survive his lies and her rage? And will any of them survive the nightmare of the Wraith?

And finally...

TEARS OF ADAMAS

In Greek, Adamas means diamond, and so the main character of this short story fairytale is aptly named. Adamas weeps diamond tears. Enter the greedy prince of the province, Poneros. Poneros cares nothing for the girl, BUT he'd sure like to know how she got all of those diamonds. The prince will stop at nothing to possess her...lies, deceit and even murder. 

Because Tears of Adamas is a short story, I've included some fun facts about diamonds you might not have known before...and if you have any other fun facts, please feel free to add them to the comments on this post. There's also an excerpt from a short story anthology included.

CAN YOU HELP?

I know a lot of you who visit me each week have already read most if not all of my work. So, I'm asking you to help me spread the word about this promo. All the books will be free from Sept. 22 to Sept. 26. I would so appreciate your support! It only takes a moment to post this on your Facebook page and/or give it a tweet on Twitter, or give it a G+. Also, if you've read them, or you do read them, please, please, please leave a review on Amazon. A review is like gold to an indie author, and each one lends credibility for an author to Amazon. Then Amazon promotes the author too! 

LINKS

Each of the books' headings are linked above to Amazon. But here are the links in case you missed them!

DREAM WEAVER

ROCK STAR

BREAKING NORMAL

TEARS OF ADAMAS

Robots - 2005

Ya know, I always sign off these posts with 'As always...Dare to Dream!' But you might not know why. I got started a little late in the writing game. I'm not ancient, by any means, but most authors start decades earlier than I did. When I started writing Dream Weaver, it was a whim. But the world of the Caphar and the Rephaim just kept building and expanding in my head. Nick's voice became a staple in my head...no not like a metal staple. And even though agents declined my queries, I pressed forward and continued to dream of getting my words, my stories in front of as many readers as possible. It is my firm belief that if you dream it, you can be it...yeah, I know, a line from Rocky Horror. But like the little robot in Disney's Robots, I believe 'A dream you don't fight for will haunt you for the rest of your life'...and I would add...'and become your worst nightmare.' I don't want to look back when I really am ancient and decrepit, and regret not following my dreams. And you shouldn't either. So that's why I sign off with the challenge...

As always...

Dare to Dream!

Su

 

Lovecraftian SteamPunk Zoms?

From 5 Stars to Finalist to Winner!

GREAT NEWS FOR DREAM WEAVER!!!

Just a quick personal shout out before I introduce this week's guest. A while back, I entered Dream Weaver in the Readers' Favorite International Book Awards. In July, I discovered it was a finalist in the contest. Well, last night, I received an email from Readers' Favorite to come check out the winners list. Of course, I followed the link, and discovered that Dream Weaver took Bronze in the Young Adult Paranormal Fiction category. Woot woot!! So now it's official...Dream Weaver is now an award winning novel!

 

 

Now, On With the Show...

If I remember right, I discovered this week's visitor from a daily email I receive with free and discounted books. I began to read his novel 'Nightmare City' and really enjoyed his unique take on his characters. Nightmare City is very well written and action packed. So I hope after you've read his interview, you'll hop on over and get a copy of his book. But wait until after. I'm sure you'll want to meet Jack first. This is one of the most fun interviews I've done. So, let me introduce Jack Conner.

Jack, thanks so much for visiting Dream Weaver Novels on Blogger. I'm very excited to have you here. Tell us a little about yourself. 

I’m from Austin, Texas, a land of great Mexican food and plentiful sunshine, at the moment marooned in Corvallis, Oregon, a dream spot for many, but sadly lacking in sunshine and Mexican food. Luckily I’m moving back to Austin! Woo-hoo! I’ll be back in early October.

I’ve been writing since I was very young. For the last decade, I’ve actually been represented by one of the best literary agencies in America. They have clients whose works have inspired TV series (one of which just ended after six or seven seasons on HBO). So. Big time. So why haven’t they gotten me published? Well, they’re trying hard, but in the wake of Borders closing, Barnes and Noble has gotten super conservative about what books they’ll buy, especially in regards to fantasy and science fiction. Borders published all sorts of alternative, cool fantasy titles, allowing people like China Mieville and Jeff Vandermeer to launch their careers. After Borders closed, B & N pretty much stopped buying New Weird books from new writers.  Books like Nightmare City, City of Shadows and others that I’ve written (and, damn it, continue to write!) just became next to impossible to sell.

So I’ve taken to self-publishing. I know the audience for those books is out there. I just need to find them. Do you like China Mieville but wish he were more, well, fun? Try me.

I really enjoyed Nightmare City. Where did the concept of the book come from?

The city of Lavorgna was inspired by a confluence of factors. Basically, I’d been writing medieval epic fantasy for years and was in the mood for something completely different. I decided to write about a more modern city (but not too modern) with plenty of fantastical, even horror-ific touches. I decided to have mad scientists creating Frankenstein-monster-like creatures, as well as homunculi, etc., and that these would be common sights in Lavorgna. There are warring mob bosses, zeppelins and alchemy, so there is very much a strong dose of pulp in these tales, but played straight, no winking at the camera or any of that. Of course, one of the most major influences was H. P. Lovecraft. I’m a huge fan of the gentleman from Providence, and having Lovecraftian horrors dwelling below the city of Lavorgna seemed like a great way to explore some fun and creepy concepts. I see many stories inspired by Lovecraft, but few resonate with me. Most seem like pale pastiches, or, worse, jokey homages. One of the few writers/creators out there able to evoke the proper mood, for me, is Mike Mignola. His Hellboy-verse is drenched in Lovecraftian goodness, while at the same time being distinctly its own thing and full of action and fun. In my own way, that’s what I’ve tried to do with my Lavorgna books. Nightmare City is actually the second novel set in Lavorgna. City of Shadows is the first, and it’s bigger and more epic than Nightmare City, but just as much fun. I’ve also written a couple of novellas in that world.  

So what's next in this Post-Steampunk Lovecraft series? 

I adore Lavorgna and the world it’s set in and hope to write a great deal more about it. However . . . 

Any other projects you'd like to share? 

. . . the world of Lavorgna inspired a very different, much bigger tale that has occupied a great deal of my attention of late. In both City of Shadows and Nightmare City we see the effects of a war that has ravaged the world, but we learn very little of that war. Well, I’ve always been curious about that conflict, and I pondered on it for a long time, and finally I set to writing. The story takes place in a different world than that of Lavorgna, but very similar, just . . . changed. Made alien. At the moment, I’m writing the fifth book in the series, and I plan to drop the whole thing like a bomb in December. It’s a tale of epic adventure and horror. Think Lord of the Rings meets Nightmare City. Does that sound grandiose? Well, okay, then imagine an epic, multi-volume tale of adventure in a strange, eerie world, a world that has been irrevocably altered by mysterious forces. Trust me, this series is awesome. 

A Bit on Jack's Writing Processes 

I love how your brain works. Tell us more about you. How did you start your writing career? And what's the most important thing you think you've learned? 

I began writing my first novel when I was eleven years old, but I’d been writing even before that. Two things prompted me: 1) I’d just learned how the world worked, where money came from, and realized they expected me to get a job. A job! Filled with horror, I cast about for some other way to make money, and immediately hit on writing because 2) I’d been telling stories since I could think coherently (still something I’m hit or miss on), both to myself and to others. I love telling stories, and I have many to tell. Sometimes I wish I could clone myself so I could have my clones write the stories I don’t have time for. 

 

How do you develop your plots and your characters? Do you use any set formula?  

I’m usually inspired by a certain image or mood, either in things I write myself or from books I’m reading or movies I’m watching. Once I fall in love with an idea, I’ll play with it, sometimes for a long time, and I’m talking years, before I finally work out the plot and story mechanics enough for me to begin writing. Then, sometimes, I’ll have an idea one day and begin writing the next. That was the case for Nightmare City. The story coalesced all of a sudden in my head one night as I was going to bed, and the next morning I couldn’t wait to leap in front of my keyboard and start writing. 

 

Do you have any suggestions/advice for beginning writers? 

The best advice I can give is twofold. One, write write write. Writing is a craft, and it takes practice. A lot of practice. Some say you don’t really learn how to write until after your first million words, and I have to say that holds true for me, pretty much. The second piece is: get feedback. Don’t trust your mom or sister or brother. If at all possible, find a writers’ critique group in your area, preferably one focused on your general genre, and go to every meeting. When I first joined the Slug Tribe in Austin, I was convinced the other writers would read my words and sit back in awe, then, very likely, begin bowing to me and calling me master. Instead, they cut my piece to ribbons. To this day they’ll tell you I went through a trial by fire. But that book (my epic fantasy War of the Black Tower: Part One) is now my best-seller . . . after massive revisions. All because I listened to their critiques, as well as others’. 

Is there someone special who helped or mentored you in your writing career? 

Oh, goodness. Well, first, my dad. He’s the one who started telling me stories at bedtime, inventing them off the top of his head, and then encouraging me to tell my own stories back to him. So he’s a huge factor in me being a writer. I think it would be fair to say I’d never have started this journey without him. Then, of course, the members of my writers critique group, the Slug Tribe, were instrumental in helping me up my game. Lastly, my agents (there are two of them, and I won’t use their names) have helped me lift my writing to a higher level still. They’ve taught me what it takes to be a commercial writer – or at least that’s the goal! J 

But I’d never be anywhere without the women in my life. My mother has always been encouraging (even if she hates fantasy, sci-fi and horror), and my wife has made it all possible by giving me the time to write, as well as the emotional support. Thank you, guys! 

My dad's more of a storyteller now than he was when I was little. I love to sit and listen to him tell stories of his childhood. I've used some of them in my writing. 

We're always on the lookout for new authors to love. Are there any other indie authors that have caught your attention? 

Sadly, I’m so busy writing and promoting that I barely have enough time to dip into my (ridiculously large) library, composed of print books collected over many years of scouring used-book stores. I have almost no time for discovering new talents (and yes, I can see some irony there). Sigh. However, once I get my big series up in December, I should be able to sit back and rest a bit. Hopefully then I’ll be able to have time to find some fellow indies. Any suggestions?

Well, Jack's opened up a can of worms. If anyone has some reading suggestions for Jack, please leave them in the comments...no shameless self promotion.

Back to the Show... 

How about a few fun questions...Who are your favorite authors/books? 

I adore TerryPratchett, George R. R. Martin, Dan Simmons, H. P. Lovecraft, J. R. R. Tolkien, Fritz Lieber, Scott Lynch, Patrick Rothfuss and fellow Texan and idol Robert E.Howard. 

Who would play you in a film of your life? 

George Clooney. Obviously. Or Owen Wilson. One of the two. Probably George. Yeah, definitely George. 

Both good looking guys. Are you trying to tell us something?

What book are you reading now? 

Gary Jennings’s “Spangle”. I love Gary Jennings. If you want some dark, epic horror, that is at the same time a fantasy novel in its own way, read his “Aztec”. I still have nightmares about that one scene . . . the one with the lemur . . . (shudder) 

Let's say one of your steampunk zoms shambles into the room you're in right now, look to your left and tell us what you have to defend yourself. 

I’m screwed, because the closest thing to my left is the “Spangle” paperback. Maybe the zombies like to read? I have a good reading voice. I open it and begin to speak, and they smile and nod and --- akejajejeeje -- 

Funny!! I've been waiting for this one to post on Facebook again so I can answer it...I keep 2 sai and a 5lb weight for just this occasion. LOL Is there anything else you want readers to know? 

If you like dark epic fantasy, Part One of War of the Moonstone is permanently free, and you can find it here . . .

Part One of War of the Moonstone in the US

Part One of War of theMoonstone in the UK 

If you want to check out Nightmare City (and why wouldn’t you?), Part One is only $0.99, and you can find it here . . .

Nightmare City in the US

Nightmare City in the UK

If you want to peruse my various books, go to my Amazon Author Page here:

Amazon Author Page

To read a free novella set in the same world as Nightmare City (and to hear about my next discount or free promotion), sign up for my newsletter here: 

 Jack Conner's Newletter 

Or you can friend me on Facebook Jack Conner to stay tuned.

Jack, thank you so much for visiting us here on Dream Weaver Novels on Blogger. I've really enjoyed your interview and getting to know you and your work a little better. Thank you for writing such creepy great stories for us to love! 

Thank you to all of you who come by to visit here each week. Your support is a true blessing and I am daily encouraged by you.

And As Always...

Dare to Dream!

Su