Been quite a summer so far, and gearing up for a busy late summer and fall. Going to be posting some updates here on works in progress and other things going on, as I know I've been slack over here on my personal blog.
On the personal side, I've continued to have some challenges, but there's some good things too. I'm training as hard as I ever have and recently got down just under the weight I was at when I still was playing baseball at age 21. So far over 153 lbs down over the 6 month journey, and it's been good enough that a company is talking to me about representing a supplement line, believe it or not. If this actually happens, it would be pretty amazing to say the least.
Me with Valkyrie, my restored 1992 Z28
I also resurrected/restored my 1992 Z-28 Camaro. There's a big story behind this car, it's very personal, and I kind of let it go during the years when I was suffering the losses of my parents, etc. It had fallen into rougher shape but I've brought it back with a vengeance, making sure that not only is it as good as before, but better. I have named the vehicle Valkyrie, in honor of Rayden Valkyrie, and she has a new silver paint job, shining like a steel blade in the sun.
Me with reader Breanna Broad
in Madison, IN at That Book Place
In June I got out and about a little, hitting a signing at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Cincinnati, Hypericon in Nashville, and a signing at That Book Place in Madison, Indiana. All were good events, and now I'm gearing up to oversee the Writers Track at Fandom Fest in Louisville August 7-9. Just beyond is Imaginarium 2015, taking place September 11-13 this year.
I recently handed in the manuscript for Hellscapes, Vol. 2 to my editor on this one, Scott Sandridge. This will be my next book release, but I'm immersing into two projects at the moment. It's high time to work on the 4th Fires in Eden novel, the follow-up to Spirit of Fire. I am also going to be working on the next Rayden Valkyrie novel, the 2nd in the Dark Sun Dawn Trilogy and the follow-up to Heart of a Lion. In the past, I have not posted a lot about works in progress, but I intended to do so from here going forward. I'm really going to push myself to grow and make further strides as a writer with each of these projects.
Crown of Vengeance Free on Kindle All Tuesday and Wednesday!
Yes, that's right, the first book of my epic fantasy series will be entirely free on Kindle both Tuesday and Wednesday of this week!
With Spirit of Fire just out, we wanted to encourage fantasy and epic fantasy readers to give the series a try.
If you know some fantasy readers, or don't mind a tweet or putting up a post or two, please share the link below and encourage others to download Crown of Vengeance while it is available for free.
The eBook includes a great set of interior artwork from Matthew Perry, and was my first literary award, landing a 2010 Pluto Award for Best Novel!
To download a copy, go to:
Always good after enduring a hellacious work schedule to get some good news, which is what happened today when I got a note that the folks at Watch Play Read chose Crown of Vengeance and Dream of Legends, the current Fires in Eden series titles, as selections for their final gift guide for the holidays.
The books were included in a short list that included the incredible Orson Scott Card, and they recommended it as a gift for those that like Lord of the Rings and George R.R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire.
As most all of you know, J.R.R. is my favorite overall author, and George R.R. Martin is my favorite living author, so you can imagine how cool I thought it was to be recommended in relation to those two series. wow! Anyhow, here's the page if you want to take a look (and leave a comment if you want to encourage/support their pick of the books :) )
http://watchplayread.com/wpr-gift-guide-read/
In other news, the four new short stories are now available on both Kindle and Nook, and I hope that those who have been getting them are enjoying them and seeing what they have to offer. If you haven't seen the synopsis on the 4 stories and their titles, then visit this page for more info:
There is a LOT more coming in this series, as I want to be able to tide all my wonderful reader-friends over in between main book releases, and this is a perfect way to do it!
Speaking of main book releases, the third Fires in Eden book has been handed in to Karen (my editor for the Fires in Eden Series), so we are on course for a spring release window. Readers have a lot to look forward to with some resolutions of things from Dream of Legends, some new things unfolding, and a couple of very important characters introduced. Very action-heavy book too. Get ready to explore the realm of Midragard quite a bit more, and perhaps a tour around Avalos and the Unifier's big mountain citadel... hint, hint... maybe just a bit with the big fellow from Dream of Legends too.... :)
Finished up my tasks as one of the directors for the broadcasts of the big thoroughbred auctions at Keeneland. Things concluded well at the Keeneland Yearling Sale, as they brought in over $225 million dollars. As I've mentioned before, it is kind of surreal to be in such an environment, as it is very different from the economic reality you see everywhere when you exit the grounds and go about your daily business. All in all, it went very well, and it is always inspiring to be around something that is on an upswing and successful.
As always is the case after a hard-pressed sales period, the past week has been swamped with all kinds of things I couldn't directly get to during the two weeks of sales. Primarily, this involved a trip to Louisville to coordinate on some events next year that I will be involved with. One, of course, is FandomFest,in Louisville KY which has been moved to June 29-July 1 in 2012. It will be at the Galt House this year, so we have the kind of venue that fits the caliber of this event. Should be an amazing weekend, and I will have all kinds of updates here.
I will also be getting underway on Duckon in Chicago and a new Birmingham event scheduled for the last week in February. More on both of those very soon.
I also got invited to be the keynote speaker at the kick-off event for the Read On! program coordinated by the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center, in Maysville, KY. this year's theme is fantasy, and they have invited me to talk about my experiences writing fantasy. Should be a lot of fun. The date is Wednesday, October 5, at the Maysville Conference Center on 2nd Street in Maysville KY.
Writing is the one thing I don't put on the backburner, and I've been hard at it all throughout, primarily on the third book in the Fires in Eden Series. I'm going through the threads with a fine-toothed comb, and really working hard on the sequencing of the threads, so that the pacing of the book is as strong as possible. From the Elder, to Avalos and Avanor, to the ongoing invasions of Saxany and the Five Realms, a lot is happening, and I want this new installment to be action packed while also exploring some new areas of Ave. Readers can expect to become much more familiar with Avalos and Midragard especially... hint, hint.
I am also working on polishing some short stories set in Ave for an exciting new eBook series at Seventh Star Press. There will be an announcement on this soon, but Steven Shrewsbury, the great sword and sorcery author at SSP, and myself, will be the first two out of the gate. The short stories will be a great introduction for new readers into Ave, and for current readers the short stories will take you to many places in Ave you haven't explored yet, while deepening some of Ave's history for you.
I should also have some Dreams of Steam II books listed in the online store at my site pretty shortly, as in around Monday. Those ordering the anthology, containing my second Harvey and Solomon story, can get it signed and personalized, as well as get a special commemorative Harvey button. I have a small number in, so if you want one, be sure to order it relatively soon.
As always, a TON of work goes into these releases, and we really put every effort to make the book releases extra special, from Matt's Artwork, to all the extras that come with the collectible packages. I hope that everyone considers a pre-order of the Limited Edition, as these books in hardcover are going to be gorgeous. The value included with these is really strong, when you look at what's included.
Help me get this kicked off strongly by spreading the link, encouraging fantasy readers to pre-order a copy, posting in message boards, etc. It is a tough road, and I can say with absolute certainty that every little bit helps, and it really encourages and validates an author when someone buys a book or helps to promote it.
Tell people to reserve many copies of the limited hardcover or first edition softcover to be shipped to friends for holiday gifts! LOL
We've also got a brand new video trailer for Dream of Legends, and you can take a look at it here:
And here's a copy of the new press release:
For Immediate Release November 23, 2010
Seventh Star Press is proud to announce the release of DREAM OF LEGENDS, the second book in the epic fantasy Fires in Eden Series from Stephen Zimmer.
Now available for pre-order in limited edition hardcover and trade paperback, DREAM OF LEGENDS continues the adventures begun in CROWN OF VENGEANCE, when it was released in fall of 2009.
DREAM OF LEGENDS journeys forward with several characters from the modern world, who discover that finding themselves in the fantastical lands of Ave was just the beginning. The assault upon the Kingdom of Saxany and the tribes of the Five Realms ignites, as the eyes of The Unifier turn southward, across the seas towards faraway Midragard. Within this maelstrom, some find themselves on a path of discovery, to uncover powers that lie within, while others must brave perilous journeys, to seek out the things said to exist only in the faded mists of myth and legend. Epic battles, plot twists, and new environments abound in DREAM OF LEGENDS.
Book Two of the Fires in Eden Series, DREAM OF LEGENDS is immersive, epic fantasy, for those who love to explore richly developed fantasy worlds alongside an ensemble of intriguing, diverse characters. Readers of the great epic fantasy authors such as Robert Jordan, George R.R. Martin, and J.R.R. Tolkien will find a wondrous trove of adventure, characters, and depth in this next step of the Fires in Eden series.
Working with Stephen for the first time, and taking on the editorial reins of the Fires in Eden Series to keep the dedicated yearly release schedule on course, was Karen Leet.
"Working with Stephen has been a joy. He is totally professional about his work, meets deadlines and edits cheerfully," Karen commented. "He makes editing easy for me, and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know his characters, who now seem to me like actual people with genuine depth. His plotlines stride across the pages on swift, sure feet and sweep the reader along with them."
“Having Karen as my editor on DREAM OF LEGENDS was a wonderful experience. She did a meticulous analysis of Crown of Vengeance to ensure full continuity of tone and style with the new book. I am fortunate to be working with two excellent editors on my two series. The new book is loaded with action, and there are some very big revelations in regards to the full series,” Stephen said. “DREAM OF LEGENDS builds strongly upon the foundation set in place by Crown of Vengeance, keeping storylines tight while introducing many new and exciting elements. I am confident that readers who enjoyed the first book are going to be elated with this new installment of the series.”
Continuing one of the most extensive collaborations between an artist and an author in the fantasy sphere, a brand new set of illustrations and cover art were created for DREAM OF LEGENDS by fantasy artist Matthew Perry. With the two Rising Dawn Saga books and the two Fires in Eden books, a growing body of over 50 full page illustrations have been created by Matthew for Stephen’s literary work.
In addition to writing two active epic-scale fantasy series, The Rising Dawn Saga and the Fires in Eden Series, Stephen also saw his first foray into the steampunk genre published a couple of months ago with “In the Mountain Skies”, which was included in the Dreams of Steam Anthology (Editor Kimberly Richardson, Kerlak Publishing). Stephen is also a screenwriter and director in the world of film, with a new fantasy short film on the horizon in early 2011, “Swordbearer”, which features professional wrestler Al Snow, and is based on the H. David Blalock novel Ascendant (Sam’s Dot Publishing).
By the third week of December, DREAM OF LEGENDS will be available in hardcover, trade paperback, and several eBook formats, for owners of the Kindle, the iPad, the Nook, Sony eReaders, and other compatible electronic reading devices.
Already maintaining one of the most active year-round appearance schedules of any fantasy author, Stephen will be hitting the road extensively in 2011 in support of the Fires in Eden Series, the Rising Dawn Saga, and the “Swordbearer” short film. The third book in the Rising Dawn Saga is slated for summer of 2011, and the next Fires in Eden Book for December of 2011.
Updates and additional information can be obtained at the official site for Seventh Star Press, at www.seventhstarpress.com , or at the author's site at www.stephenzimmer.com
Contact: C.C. James Public Relations, Seventh Star Press ccjames@seventhstarpress.com Seventh Star Press Mailing Address: 3801 Dylan Place Suite 116, #7 Lexington, Ky. 40514-1062
Seventh Star Press is a small press publisher of speculative fiction located in Lexington Kentucky.
Just a couple of days after the announcement that the Rising Dawn Saga is available in the iBookstore (and Crown of Vengeance will be there shortly), I am happy to say that both The Rising Dawn Saga and Fires in Eden series titles are now available at several online eBook retailers for users of Sony eReaders and other reading devices that accept the ePub file format.
This rounds out eBook availability, with the ePub versions for numerous reading devices being added to the Kindle and iBookstore versions.
Here is the post from the SSP site and blog, which I copied over to my website's home page:
>>
Pricing is consistent with the Kindle and iBookstore pricing, with the retail price for The Storm Guardians at $3.99 and Crown of Vengeance at $2.99. The Exodus Gate will have a retail price of $2.99 on October 2, 2010 (it is listed at its previous pricing of $7.99 until that date, when the new pricing goes into effect)
Here are some sites where the 3 titles can be found.
Haven't been online much over the past few days. Had a real scare on the homefront when I had to take my mother into the emergency room last Thursday, due to an extreme increase in blood pressure. At first, it looked like a stroke was underway, but thankfully the tests showed that it was not. She was unresponsive, and then had a major seizure, so it was a very nerve-wracking situation to be observing. But once they got the blood pressure under control, she regained her alertness, etc. They kept her in ICU until this past Sunday, then two days in another section for observation, and they released her yesterday. Things look okay, but it was a harrowing few days.
I'm revving back up to full speed, as I was only able to tend to the most timely project issues during the recent few days, normally at very late or early hours.
We are getting the last few planning elements in place for the 3 shoots that are left for Swordbearer. The big shoot is on the 25th, when we will have the fight of the champions, Al Snow and Benjamin Wood. It is going to be a long shoot, but has the potential of being a very, very good one.
also got the good news that one friend, TammyJo Eckhart has a new agent, which is fantastic news for her outstanding vampire book that she will be finding a home for. Also, Steven Shrewsbury had a new novel called Hell Billy picked up by a great publisher. Big Congrats to the both of them.
I am in the stretch run on the final polish on the 2nd Fires in Eden book. It is on course for a December release, and I think folks that enjoyed Crown of Vengeance are in for a big, big adventure. My editor on this one, Karen Leet, was very happy with the pacing and the flow of this one. Matt will be doing another set of illustrations for it, building onto the body of artwork that has already been established.
In other notes, The Exodus Gate and The Storm Guardians are up now on Apple's iBookstore. Crown of Vengeance should appear there shortly. All three titles are available on Kindle, and in about a week the three titles will be available in many eBook outlets. Those with Kindles, iPads, or Sony eReaders are well-covered. The titles are very favorably priced, with The Exodus Gate and Crown of Vengeance being just $2.99 and The Storm Guardians being just $3.99.
Look out for some new announcements to come shortly, involving some short stories.. ;) that's all I'll say for the moment!
In addition to the two trailers released last week, we have a new Crown of Vengeance trailer that was just put up on YouTube, which matches the other two trailers in style. It is a very nice showcase of Matthew Perry's artwork from the book. You can view it here:
Last week was great, with the unveiling of Steven L. Shrewbury coming aboard Seventh Star Press. This week is going to be rather exciting as well.
Yes, it is time...the sequel to The Exodus Gate, Book Two of the Rising Dawn Saga, is going to be announced and cover art will be revealed.
The title is going to be launched at Nashville's Hypericon, a great Con that I have come to regard as very special to me. There are a string of appearances following it, during the launch month of the new book, including a stop in Memphis on June 7th, Huntington on June 11, Louisville on June 12, Cincinnati on June 13, Chicago from June 18-20, Lexington (the big homecoming signing) on June 25, and then wrapping up with the fourth of July weekend in Indianapolis.
There WILL be a Limited Edition package offered, as with the other two novels. This one promises to be the best yet. Details are still being sorted out, but I can say that it will be a limited edition hardcover, limited to 75 copies, and will include all of the extras that many have come to enjoy, like the bookmarks, poster, card sets, and glossy cover arts...but wait...there's more...
this one will include a t-shirt as well, the first design from the new book. We are working with our pals at Fast Custom Shirts to integrate this into the package. It will feature one of the illustrations in the new book (artwork by Matthew Perry), and will be on a pre-shrunk, 100% cotton shirt. Those getting the limited edition package can specify their size.
As I've said before, I'm willing to go the extra mile, and a few miles beyond that, to deliver the best quality releases and related items that I can. It is my way of demonstrating my deep regard for my readers, who I never take lightly or for granted. It is why I work relentlessly to keep to a schedule whereby my two primary series (Rising Dawn Saga and Fires in Eden) will each have new titles on roughly 1 year cycles, and why I push myself as hard as I can to maintain a very active convention and appearance schedule. I hope that my readers appreciate the new package.
Expect a lot in the coming months...the new book, a slew of new appearances, the new resin-cast figure series being debuted, my first film project as a director related to fantasy, and more. I wouldn't have it any other way! Join me for the ride, and let's make it a wild and wonderful one!
D.A. Adams recently interviewed me for his blog site, and the interview was posted this past friday night. Due to snowfall in Kentucky, which plays havoc with my DSL connection, I was a little belated in getting up the link to the interview.
I really enjoyed this one, as when I first got the questions I was very curious as to what a fellow fantasy author would ask me. D.A., of course, is a great author whose series The Brotherhood of Dwarves I definitely endorse and encourage readers to try out. Needless to say, the questions were excellent, and I enjoyed offering my insights and thoughts within the answers. It covers a lot of ground, concerning my work, conventions, and the state of the publishing industry. Hopefully you will enjoy the answers too!
A quick note here...we've been working, working, working to get the full package together for Crown of Vengeance, from the book to all of the collectibles that will go with the Limited Edition and Trade Paperback pre-orders. I am very, very focused on giving my readers the best possible package that we can pull off, and going the extra mile as a way of showing my gratitude for their support.
I must say that the art card set for this book looks killer. There will be 9 cards in the set (2 more than we were able to do for the Exodus Gate, which was a 7 card set). We are also working through a poster that will be slightly larger in dimensions than the last one, and a very slick 8X10 of the cover art. Last, but not least, is a collectible bookmark set that will contain no less than EVERY illustration and the cover art used in the Limited Edition (which has one extra full page illustration done especially for this version). I think people are going to really like the package.
The hardcover looks very sharp!
Sooooo much goes into this, even the things that don't seem all that complicated. It really is a big undertaking, and Matt Perry has been fantastic and has risen to the challenge of translating everything for the package.
I am also very, very grateful to all the bloggers that have participated in the book announcement for Crown Of Vengeance. Their readers each got a sneak peak of one of the illustrations in the book, as one image was designated for each blogger to use exclusively for a week and a half.
Lots going on, and I have to remain tunnel-visioned to get it all accomplished, but we're on track!
At last, here it is! The new series and book announcement, as posted on my publisher's site. The limited edition hardcover is very sharp, and as there will only be 100 copies be sure to get your order in if you want one. Pre-ordering window will be up until November 1st.
Begin an Epic Journey...
On a night that begins no different from any other, strange mists engulf Janus Roland, Erika Laesig, Mershad Shahab, and several others going about their lives in a quiet midwestern town. When the mist dissipates, they all find themselves looking up into the bright skies of a new, incredible world.
Without explanation of why it has happened, or any notion of where they are, they embark upon a grand adventure within the fantastical world of Ave. Some find themselves in the lands of the Saxan Kingdom, while others have emerged within the lands of the Onan, one of the tribes in the Five Realms confederation.
Storms of war loom over both Saxany and the Five Realms, as invasion forces mass under the inspiration of The Unifier, a mysterious, captivating figure whose influence has swept across the surface of Ave ever since His rise to power in the Gallean duchy of Avanor. It is a war that will be fought in the skies, upon the seas, on land, and even in places non-physical in nature.
A majestic, epic fantasy that begins many adventures and journeys across a diverse and enthralling world, filled with races and creatures both familiar and new, Crown of Vengeance lights the flame of the Fires in Eden series, bringing to life a bold, far-ranging, and grand new venture within the realms of fantasy literature.
Pre-Order Announcement for Crown of Vengeance:
Seventh Star Press proudly announces the release of Crown of Vengeance, the first book in the new epic fantasy series Fires in Eden, by author Stephen Zimmer (The Exodus Gate).
To commemorate the forthcoming release, publisher Seventh Star Press is offering pre-order packages for Crown of Vengeance, including a very special, limited edition hardcover version that is strictly limited to 100 copies.
To ensure full authenticity, the limited edition hardcover will be hand-numbered and signed by Stephen Zimmer, and also signed by editor Amanda DeBord and illustrator/cover artist Matt Perry. It will include an extra illustration, and designation plate as a limited edition within the book.
Both the limited edition hardcover and first edition trade paperback pre-orders come with a special package of collectibles, including a numbered set of art cards, a collectible set of 6 bookmarks, and a full color poster of the cover art.
Information on the pre-ordering options can be found at the new site for the Fires In Eden series, located at www.firesineden.com
It has sure been a busy week since I returned from ConText. I plan on getting a more thorough overview of the event up, as well as a few pics, but suffice it to say that it was a very outstanding event that I hope to visit again next year.
We're getting a little closer to opening up a pre-order window for the limited edition version of the new book, Crown of Vengeance, which is the first adventure in the new series Fires in Eden. Stay tuned for more very, very shortly!
Sitting here in the morning in Columbus Ohio, ready to start day two of ConTrek, a very nice speculative fiction literary convention. I've got a few panels to do today, which will be fun, as they focus on issues of translating books to film and vice-versa. In other words, I get to draw off both of those aspects of me under one umbrella!
I've been a little slack on my posts here. It's been crazy, just trying to get a good rhythm going with the Indie Movie Masters and Seventh Star Press blogs and podcasts, and I've been putting a ton of hours into the writing, as always! ;)
Matt is knee-deep in completing the artwork on the new novel. The title is going to be Crown of Vengeance, and it will be Book One of Fires in Eden. It is epic fantasy of a more medieval/high fantasy nature, though it does involve a few characters from the modern age that get whisked into this world.
As I've stated before, the plan is to have the sequel to The Exodus Gate, Book Two of the Rising Dawn Saga, out in spring of 2010, and we will try to maintain a schedule with books in the Fires in Eden series coming out in each fall and Rising Dawn Saga books coming out each spring.
The material is there, as both have been in development for years. It is just a matter of editing and polishing the material.
Matt also is working with one of my horror short stories, turning it into a graphic novel that is being put out in segments for a sequential art magazine. I have several horror short stories that just need some tweaking, which have a thematic continuity, and could form a nice singular anthology. Kind of a Clive-Barkeresque Books of Blood sort of vibe, as they are very macabre, and visceral. Matt and I have discussed turning a Volume One of these stories into a sequential art version, so stay tuned.
As far as film goes, I am committed to helping a very talented guy develop a horror feature. We've got a way to go before any greenlight, but suffice it to say that his story and concept are dynamite. We want to achieve a production value that is theatrical grade. I would be a producer on this project if it moves forward.
The fantasy short film that I mentioned a ways back is tentatively slated to be produced in early 2010. In the meantime, I am a producer on Scott Sullivan's new comedy short, Santa Boy, which shoots this December. Scott is a great talent and fellow and I am looking forward to working with him on it.
So there you go! A bit of an update with some new information. (Including my quiet announcement of the new book title, haha).
I'm off to ConText here shortly! Jason Sizemore of Apex, Michael West, Maurice Broaddus, Dan and Jackie Gamber, and all the gang are here, so it should be crazy and alot of fun.
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