StanleyWheeler

   I picked up Fred Saberhagen's Merlin's Bones to read another take on the Arthur legend. This story was certainly unlike any other. I first encountered King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table as kid. My parents had a series of flip over books--two books in one with each upside down to the other, with two covers--I'm not sure, but I believe the King Arthur book was opposite Howard Pyle's Robin Hood . I loved both of those books. In King Arthur , the knights were always fighting and at some point one of them would smash through the other's helmet to bury his sword in the brain pan of the other. In Robin Hood , the hero was always sending a clothyard shaft to its mark. Later, my high school librarian got me a copy of Mallory's Le Morte d'Arthur . She found it at a yard sale and thought of me--which, of course, was fabulous. I still have that one and read it again only a few years ago. Other retellings of the tale I've read include Bernard Cornwe...

 In case you thought reading was a safe activity:   Here's the interview with me  about Accidental Pirates -- paperback available Nov 26 - Get your boys reading for Christmas. The sequel is half finished with 15 of 30 chapters already filled with slam bang action and adventure.   I think I've been remiss in sharing some fun facts lately, so here's a helping of history: FUN FACT:  In 1111, Al-Mustazhir bi-Allah served as Caliph of the Abbasid Empire and spiritual leader of the Sunni branch of Islam. He married Ismah Khatun. In March, she headed for Isfahan to take her place in the Caliph's palace. In February, a delegation of Sufi's, disgruntled merchants, and lawyers from Aleppo had arrived in Baghdad to complain that they had lost that lovin' feeling of support from the Caliph, and they were tired of fighting the infidels who continued to storm, besiege, kidnap, and kill. With the recent loss of Sidon to King Baldwin, they feared Tyre, Damascus or Aleppo ...

  Interview with Sam Robb Author of Sigils, and much more   Please tell me a little about your current newest release. Sigils is an urban fantasy set in Pittsburgh. It’s kind of boy-meets-girl-meets-eldritch horror, so, you know – classic literature. J More seriously, James O’Neil is James a high school senior; he’s done some graffiti in his life, but wants to turn that into a stint at art school. Unfortunately, he’s about to learn the hard way that names have power, and his graffiti tags can open doors in the forgotten byways of Pittsburgh. After he accidentally summons a powerful and malevolent Fae, he only manages to escape by the intervention of other taggers. On the run, James needs allies, and answers, but everything seems to be conspiring against him and his world is falling apart around him. Where did you get the idea for this book or series? I work in downtown Pittsburgh (“dahntahn” for my fellow Yinzers). I’ve spent a lot of time over the past few years explo...

  Accidental Pirates becomes available for pre-order on November 12. This isn't you grandpa's Treasure Island : Two boys whisked into a strange land face danger at every turn. Stranded in this world of pirates on the wild islands of the Dragon Sea, death pursues them in many forms, but Chris and Kenny have to keep their heads, protect their friend, and learn to eat food they don't like--doing their best to avoid becoming snacks for ravenous young dragons. The dragons and the cannibals might appear to be the greatest threat, but Captain Ross may be the craftiest adversary of all. It's a fight for survival and a race into peril to find the Lost Chest and their only way back home. Get a copy for every boy on your list! Here's the link (ebook only at the moment, but hard copies soon) .   I'm sufficiently thrilled with this book's imminent publication that I've started on the sequel and I'm eight chapters into the exciting adventure, tentatively called: ...

 Interview with James Quinlan Meservy Author of The Realm of Light Series - and much more   Please tell me a little about your current work in progress.             My current work in progress is an epic fantasy adventure. The original inspiration for this story was the question, “What would a book look like if “Big Brother” from Orwell’s 1984 was a clan of lazy dragons?” And I am just running with the idea. Where did you get the idea for this book or series?             Usually I get my book ideas from my dreams, and also from conversations with fellow Indie authors. Do you write in more than one genre?             Most of my published works are fantasy. I have YA fantasy, Epic Fantasy, and Children Fantasy titles. But, I also have published a couple sci-fi short stories, a collection of poetry that I ...