It’s that time again.
The newest edition of my book, Elithius, is coming out December 7th. After receiving some negative but insightful critiques a year ago, I’ve basically rewritten the book. More has changed the style of my writing, however: everything from the names of the characters, to the cultures, to the worlds I endeavor to bring to life, have changed.
It’s the same story. But it’s better. More developed. More intense. More real.
And it’s coming.
Yours truly,
Dominic
The world doesn’t need another steamy romance novel. I’m sorry, we really don’t. The average citizen can hardly escape from our pornified culture of objectification, use, and abuse. We don’t need false representations of love coming from our literature too. We don’t need our conception of romantic love to be warped even further. Pushing the culture’s agenda for “love” will help no one, not even yourself.
The world doesn’t need another paranormal-fantasy romance novel. It’s a worn out idea–curious, innocent young women falling for hot vampire men. Or vice versa. I’m not impressed. Create something new.
The problem with self-publishing (which I am a part of!) is that so many people just add to all the crap that’s already there. If you’re going to produce crap, at least make your own pile.
LGBTQ/Diverse genres. I’m seeing such a push for these genres in publishing companies, and the reason why is because they are underrepresented. Well, not to come across as a hater, but maybe they are underrepresented for a reason. They don’t appeal to everyone; in a way, they shouldn’t. That’s fine. The marginalized people deserve a voice, but that doesn’t mean that they should rise above everyone else just because they are marginalized or considered the minority.
Mystery. EVERYONE WRITES MYSTERY. How many who-dun-its can we produce? If you’re going to write in this genre, you better make sure you stand out! There’s a lot of competition.
What genres are you growing bored of? Are any of them timeless? What are your favorite genres?
So it’s been 9 months and the revised edition of my book is finally finished! The characters have different names that suit their culture, every culture is more defined and developed, and the plot (hopefully!) flows a lot better. I’m excited to share this with you! Here’s a sneak peek at what you can expect. Let me know what you think!
PROTAGONIST: FEAR HEDEKIRA (THE MAIN CHARACTER)
Begin excerpt
“It’s Fear, right?” the Knight speaks.
I hesitate, squinting. “Uh-huh.”
“Do you know where you are?”
My mouth opens. I can see—through the ever-moving torrent of rain—my house behind him. But I bow my head. No…it just doesn’t make sense.
“You’re dead, Fear.”
I wince at the words, keeping my head bowed and closing my eyes.
“You know this.”
Tucking my chin to avoid as much water as possible, I open my mouth, breathing deeply. Dammit. I have no response…because I know he’s right. Dead…I’m…dead. I just can’t believe—
An image of Aislin stumbling away from me in the cave, her blood spurting, flashes in my mind. Then an image of Arik, roaring at me. The feeling of the arrow ramming into my back. Being alone in the forest, feeling cold, losing feeling in my body. The darkness suffusing my vision. It all comes back to me.
A harsh, burning sensation fills my chest…my heart aches, so depressed, so full of regret, so lonely…
“I’m here to make a deal with you.”
I grunt, raising my head and opening my eyes. I regard the figure before me, fully attentive.
“You can call me Alitheo. I can rescue you from here and give you a second chance at life…but you need to promise me something.”
I swallow, staring harder at the Knight. Alitheo? What does that mean? Finding my tongue, I blurt, “Okay!”
A second chance at life. Can he really do that? Can anyone really give me that? I’m certain I’ve never met this person before. I have no reason to trust him. But, at this point, nothing else really matters to me. I have nothing to lose. I’ll give him anything he wants!
Nodding, Alitheo seems satisfied. His voice once again comes to me from the shadow beneath his hood: “I need you to give me, when I ask for it, your heart.”
The sound of the rain beating against the ground, splashing against puddles, pervades the air.
I frown. “My heart? What do you—?”
“In every way you can think of.”
I exhale, staring into the darkness beneath the hood. Does he mean literally? Like cut it out and give it to him? Or does he want me to fall in love with him? I don’t get it.
“When the time comes, I’ll show you how. Do you promise?”
Lowering my gaze, I shift, scratching my head and wiping off several rivulets of rainwater that were headed for my eyes. I really don’t even understand what I’m promising. My eyes rise to the figure before me. But…does it really matter? Am I going to turn him down just because of uncertainty? “I’ll be alive again?” I ask. “In the same place where I died?”
“In the forest, midway between Sunnan and Noroan, less than a league from the cave where you left your friends.”
I grunt, deciding not to question how he knows all of this. What…are you?
“Do you promise?” he asks.
Swallowing, I look over my shoulder, back to where the glorious, wonderful version of myself had been standing. Then my eyes fall once again to the puddle. An image of what I saw fills my mind.
I look back at Alitheo, my face tight and brow narrowed. “I promise.”
No, not looking for new FOLLOWERS (although that’s always welcome), I’m looking for new people to FOLLOW.
Recently, I’ve discovered that a lot of the people I follow have stopped blogging and vanished. That, or I really just don’t follow a lot of people to begin with.
Either way, I’m bored 🙂
I love blogs about writing, publishing, fantasy, anything of that sort. If you feel like your blog is a good fit for me, introduce yourself in the comment section and I’d be happy to check out your blog. Don’t be shy!
Ever since my book was reviewed by three highly insightful people (you know who you are!), I’ve been determined to make all necessary corrections to my story.
Please make note: for those of you that have read my book, or those of you that plan to read it, this post is EXTREMELY important, and will be affixed as a page hereafter.
So, without further ado, here’s an update of my fantasy series, Elithius.
Yup. Just “basically” rewrote it. If you’ve been wondering where I’ve been all this time (say, the last 9 months), here’s an explanation.
After being told that there is WAY too much “telling” in my book, and not enough “showing”, I’ve gone through the entire book and changed this. Scenes have been completely rewritten and changed as a result, and hopefully the story feels more compact, complete, and polished.
Because of all of this, I highly recommend that you REREAD my book, once it’s been republished. I don’t want you to be confused with names.
Why did I do this? I felt like the names of my characters didn’t make sense for their given setting. I also wanted to create a more developed world, so I created a whole culture (very akin to Norse culture) and made sure that everything catered to this culture. Names, places, and even manners of speaking have consequently been reformed. Hopefully, this makes the story feel more developed, fitting, and in-depth.
A lot of things are different. I mean a LOT. From the way characters meet, to the time they enter the story, a lot of things are different. I think that all the changes will result in better plotting and more familiarity with each character, hopefully creating a better reader-to-character relationship.
Obviously, every author will tell you this. So you just have to take my word for it. The universe I’ve created is more polished, the writing style has been purified and reinforced, and the characters are more relatable. Overall, I’m excited to see what you think!
Thanks for sticking by me through all this. Here’s to a new edition of Elithius!
Yeah
I hope that you, yeah, feel me somehow
Sometimes what I wanna say, yeah, I just can’t figure out
Closest to heaven, yeah, that I’ll ever be
The only thing I want, yeah, is to give you all of me
Don’t wanna go home, yeah, right now, right now,
My heart and my mind, yeah, keep going “wow, just wow”
Cause this moment, yeah, is all that I taste
Every second I spend with you, yeah, is never a waste
Cause all I’m breathing, yeah, is your life
Everything about you, yeah, is too nice, too nice
But I know sooner or later, yeah, it ends
But I can’t help see life, yeah, through a different lens
Gonna see you, yeah, tonight, yeah tonight
No, everything, yeah, is gonna be alright
Chorus
Cause you know the world don’t see me
Don’t think they can
But I know you do, I know you understand
When every part of me is broken,
You always know who I am
You’re the most beautiful part of my life
Yeah, praying this is all God’s plan
Cause you can’t fight Truth, yeah, you know he’s coming
I love seeing you, yeah, becoming what you’re becoming
And you’re full of that Truth, yeah, no lies, no lies
So pure, yeah, so real, you don’t need no disguise
You’re so amazing, yeah, you’re better than the movies
I thank God every day, yeah, for the way that you choose me
And I’m bleeding, yeah, just to know I’m alive
Life’s so good, yeah, I thought I already died
Chorus
Cause you know the world don’t see me
Don’t think they can
But I know you do, I know you understand
When every part of me is broken,
You always know who I am
You’re the most beautiful part of my life
Yeah, praying this is all God’s plan
^ For Elia…
Congrats yeah, you made it
Hard work yeah, it paid it
Smarts yeah, you display it
If not, then you fake it
Make life or break life
Everything you do just seems right
But I know that’s not what’s true
I see the things that you do
And the mask you wear
Your disguise
Nobody can look you
In the eyes
Eyes are the window
to the soul
But if you look through
It’s just a hole
But I know that something’s there
No I really do, I swear
But if you cling to that mask,
I promise it won’t disappear
No
So listen
To the verses
Of my heart
As it curses
Duplicity
And falsity
Yeah the lies we hide behind
Put on a fake face
Smile
Even though we’re dead inside our mind
We try to be real
But the problem is we don’t know how that FEELS
No…
CHORUS
It takes my breath away
The things that you never say
The chances you’ll never take
But who am I to talk anyway?
Yeah
Anyway?
Yeah
Don’t roll your eyes, complaining
Life is hard, and your straining
But you’re privileged, daddy’s paying
Know what it’s worth, education?
Don’t make a fuss, just sayin
You don’t deserve to whine, I’m not playing!
Every time you’re wrong
You give me a reason to write this song
No wonder, you’re so fake
Every time, you need a break
From being criticized
Instead being told lies
And played for fools
You just believe whatever you hear
You always do what the world wants you to!
You’re a pawn yeah
In a game
Might get rewarded
With fame
But your name
Is not a name
That isn’t without shame
Yeah
Yeah it’s not without shame
If you’re just a part of the game
Yeah
CHORUS
It takes my breath away
The things that you never say
The chances you’ll never take
But who am I to talk anyway?
Yeah
Anyway?
Yeah
So step up to the plate
You wanna be mediocre? Or you wanna be great?
Yeah, you wanna be great?
Then listen, my advice
You take this, your life
Quit rolling your eyes and flipping your hair
And shrugging your shoulders like you don’t even care
Yeah, I see you
You think the world, it needs you
Well sorry, I don’t believe you
Your arrogance, that should leave you
You think smart and you talk loud
You’re gonna make daddy so proud
But don’t be living for the crowd
No
Immaturity isn’t allowed
If you wanna grow up
And live free
And be the person you’re meant to be
And change the world for the better
Right down to the last letter
And I’m telling you this
Not to be a lie
You wanna be real? Give it a try
It’s now or never
Do or die!
Even when you start to cry
It’s better not to be dead: alive!
Ashes will remain
When you finally burn out the pride
But it’ll be worth the pain
If you don’t, then you’ll only ever feign
What could be more
What could be true
And if you don’t
you’ll be the one to blame
Yeah, the one to blame
CHORUS
It takes my breath away
The things that you never say
The chances you’ll never take
But who am I to talk anyway?
Yeah
Anyway?
Yeah
Yesterday (on my birthday), I released the second book in my fantasy series, Elithius. Looking for an exciting read for the holiday season? I got you covered.
This is the last call for anyone who wants to take advantage of the sale I’m having. Two full-sized novels, $0.99 each. That’s less than two dollars! You’re not going to get an opportunity like this again.
Even if you haven’t got the time to read my books right now, why not grab them at the lowest price possible so that, if you want to read them in the future, you’ll have them?
And, in case you were wondering what the story is about, here’s my logline!
John Hedekira and his friends must track and rescue Cassie and Luke, John’s little sister and brother, before they can be taken and sacrificed to the God of Death by Nirak, the Red Captain.
Sounds intense, right? 🙂 🙂
Thanks to everyone who’s already purchased it! Hope you enjoy!
Yes ladies and gentlemen, that is correct! As promised, the second book in my fantasy series, Elithius, has been published, and is currently available for only $0.99 TODAY ONLY. The same goes for the first book in my series. That’s only $1.98 for two full sized novels. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
And did I mention that it’s my birthday???
In case you didn’t know, what’s Elithius about?
Here’s the back-cover blurb for the first book:
His parents abandon him when he’s thirteen. He’s left to care for his little brother and sister. Life is tough. Things can’t seem to get any worse.
But then Evil Itself breaks down the door. It kidnaps his siblings. And It leaves him bleeding out on the floor of his own home.
The Golden Lands, one of the Three Worlds of Elithius, is supposed to be a place of light, peace and happiness. But the Golden Lands hasn’t been such a place for John Hedekira, a jaded, hot-headed sixteen-year-old. Joined by his friends Faith Pinck and Bernard Tanner, John must rescue his brother and sister from their captors…before his siblings can be sacrificed to the ominous God of Death.
And here’s the back cover blurb for the second book!
John Hedekira and his friends must venture into the Gray Lands in order to rescue John’s sister, Cassie. Upon entering the Gray Lands, they make new friends…and new enemies. Before they know it, they are thrown into the middle of a raging war, in which loyalties and friendships will be tested, darker and more heinous powers will challenge them…and souls will be ripped apart.
The adventures of John and his friends have only begun.
Once again, that’s both my books for only $1.98 TODAY ONLY! Don’t miss out!
As always, I’d like to thank all of you for your continued support. It’s been a long journey writing two books, and I’ve been so blessed to share this with you. I truly believe that you’re all wonderful people and it’s been a pleasure getting to know all of you and experience the blogosphere with each of you. To many more years, I hope!
-Dom
Now that’s what I’m talking about!
Book 2: The Darkness Within, is coming tomorrow! See ya then!
The Golden Lands 