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Interview with Blake & Raven Penn, Author of The Skystone Chronicles: Dragon Thief

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Skystone Chronicles: Dragon Thief?

We wanted to write a book that would've kept our teenage selves up reading until 3 in the morning. We just love dragons and magic, and wanted to take our own stab at it, and found some incredibly fun characters along the way.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of The Skystone Chronicles: Dragon Thief, what would they be?

Probably the song people would recognize is "Levitating," by Dua Lipa, but the real niche one is either "Skyway Avenue" by We the Kings, or "Go," by Cody Fry.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Fantasy by far. So yes. Fantasy gives you a chance to let limits melt away.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Malice, by John Gwynne for Blake, and Mistborn Era 2 for Raven (she's still catching up).

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Definitely the Ghost Lake Heist scene. It was such a blast to work our magic system into all of our favorite heist elements, and really see every character shine in their role... except for Jax.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Is it quirky to write only when your kids are asleep? Other than that, listening to character mood playlists while writing.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Choose Light, Burn Bright, Drive Out Darkness, Light The Way.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

To leave a review and buy the next one 😉

But for real, that you shouldn't let anyone make your choices for you - they're yours, and that you're as free as you choose to be...

 

Blake & Raven Penn is the author of the new book The Skystone Chronicles Book 1: Dragon Thief

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Interview with J. Traveler Pelton, Author of The Falconcrest Chronicles

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Falconcrest Chronicles?

My grandson wrote the first book in this setback when he was completing his home school requirements; no, all home schools do not require the participants write an entire book before they graduate, but when your grandma is an author and your grandpa has written a book and your aunt has written three books... Anyway, he wanted to do it in place of a dissertation and I allowed it. It took us several months to complete, rewrite, edit, polish, and prep.

He was completely surprised when it was published before graduation, and horrified when his ex-girlfriend’s father wrote a scathing review on how terrible the book was. He found out who write the review when the creep called and gloated about it. Yes, that review is still on Amazon. At any rate, the next three became his daydreams of where it ought to go and my writing them, since he was now involved in college, first jobs, and getting independent. He would talk out a plot idea, we’d jam over it, and I’d get the writing done.

All four books are in this volume. You’re going to love them.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of The Falconcrest Chronicles, what would they be?

If I saw this as being cast for a movie, I think I’d use the following music:

Let’s see, for Lucan, something along the lines of Running with the Wolves and for his wife Wind Beneath My Wings. For the intro to the movie, something from Aaron Copeland crossed with medieval celtic. For the dragon, Puff the Magic Dragon, I don’t know... We’ve got to have the 1812 overture in there somewhere-maybe in the battle scenes?

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I love almost anything that isn't erotic, trashy or too violent; in short clean. Although, some of my early cozy mysteries had some crazy stuff in them. I leave people outside the bedroom door, so to speak and outside the wars.

As for what I write, cozy mysteries, historical fiction, fantasy, spiritual books and Sci-fi.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Oh my goodness, I have a stack of them. Most of them are mysteries.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I think the birth scene in the floating bubble was rewarding to think up. I like the scene where Lucas makes friends with the dragon.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I have to get up and stretch every 45 minutes or I get writer's block - seriously. I have to move and think out scenes.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

I try to help the hurt and loneliness in your heart by taking you away for a little while. There is SO much pain in this world.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Good wins. Love is eternal. Don't be afraid to make friends with someone different, you may discover a gem.

 

J. Traveler Pelton is the author of the new book The Falconcrest Chronicles

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New Mystery and Thriller Books to Read | March 28

Hold on to the edge of your seat as we hunt for clues and solve the case with these exciting new mystery and thriller books for the week! There are so many bestselling authors with new novels for you to dive into this week including Madelyn Scott, Stephanie K Clemens, Robert Dugoni, and many more. Enjoy your new mystery, thriller, and suspense novels. Happy reading!



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New Books to Read in Literary Fiction | March 28

Literary fiction readers are in for a treat. This week’s latest releases list is full of intriguing reads you won’t want to miss! The new releases list includes so many bestselling authors like Lisa Scottoline, Jeannette Walls, Alka Joshi, and many more. Enjoy your new literary fiction books. Happy reading!



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New Science Fiction and Fantasy Books | March 28

Set off on an adventure to new worlds this week! This selection of new science fiction and fantasy books will surely please! Science Fiction fans should be excited about the latest from bestselling authors M.R. Carey, J.S. Dewes, Nathan Hystad, and more. If Fantasy is what your library needs, you’ll be able to pick up the latest from Blake & Raven Penn, J. Traveler Pelton, Barbara Davis, and more. Enjoy your new science fiction and fantasy books. Happy reading!


Fantasy


Science Fiction


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New Young Adult Books to Read | March 28

Are you an avid reader of Young Adult books? This week you are in luck! With all of these new novels, you’re bound to find a new favorite book to add to your reading list. This week includes new novels from bestselling authors Shanti Hershenson, KE Strand, Marie Lu, and many more. Enjoy your new young adult books. Happy reading!



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New Biography and Memoir Books to Read | March 28

Looking for some new biography and memoir books for your library? There are so many new releases this week that you’re bound to find a new favorite. You can pick up new books from Lorraine Dusky, Matthew Pratt Guteri, Abraham Riesman, and many more. Enjoy your new biography and memoir books. Happy reading!



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Explore the Human Experience with These Nonfiction Books

Explore the Human Experience with These Nonfiction Books

Biographies and memoirs offer a unique opportunity to explore the human experience through the eyes of others. These books give us a glimpse into the lives of people from all walks of life, sharing their struggles, triumphs, and lessons learned. Whether you're looking for inspiration, insight, or just a good story, these new biography and memoir releases are perfect for you!



Facebook's Oldest Intern: How a 60-year-old Fitness Trainer Reinvented Himself With the Most Unlikely of Companies

by Howard Waldstreicher

Release Date: March 6, 2023

Was I a test case to see if Facebook could actually incorporate a sixty-year-old man twenty years out of technology into the company? The thought crossed my mind.

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Breaking Midnight: A True Story

by Lynn Walker

Release Date: January 13, 2023

John Walker was a Miami undercover narcotics agent in the 1970s. Ten years later, he was in prison for smuggling 12,000 pounds of marijuana. Breaking Midnight shines a light on the gritty underbelly of the Miami drug trade. Written by John’s daughter, Lynn, this is an uncensored, up-close-and-personal true story of how a good cop goes bad.

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Did I Ever Tell You This?

by Sam Neill

Release Date: March 21, 2023

In this unexpected memoir, written in a creative burst of just a few months in 2022, Sam Neill tells the story of how he became one of the world’s most celebrated actors, who has worked with everyone from Meryl Streep to Isabel Adjani, from Jeff Goldblum to Sean Connery, from Steven Spielberg to Jane Campion.

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The Angel Makers: Arsenic, a Midwife, and Modern History's Most Astonishing Murder Ring

by Patti McCracken

Release Date: March 14, 2023

The Angel Makers is a true-crime story like no other—a 1920s midwife who may have been the century’s most prolific killer leading a murder ring of women responsible for the deaths of at least 160 men.

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Untold Power: The Fascinating Rise and Complex Legacy of First Lady Edith Wilson

by Rebecca Boggs Roberts

Release Date: March 7, 2023

A nuanced portrait of the first acting woman president, written with fresh and cinematic verve by a leading historian on women’s suffrage and power.

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Madame Restell: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York's Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist

by Jennifer Wright

Release Date: February 28, 2023

“This is the story of one of the boldest women in American history: self-made millionaire, a celebrity in her era, a woman beloved by her patients and despised by the men who wanted to control them.”

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Books to Read for Fans of the Imaginary Worlds Podcast

Books to Read for Fans of the Imaginary Worlds Podcast

Whether you're looking for a new adventure to lose yourself in or simply want to explore the boundaries of your own imagination, these books are sure to captivate and inspire you. Check out our recommendations for the best new fantasy and science fiction books to read for fans of the Imaginary Worlds podcast.



Apocalypse Assassin (System Orphans: Claire Book 1)

by J.J. Thorn

Release Date: March 1, 2023

Don't be distracted. Trust the Quest. Kill your target. Apocalypse Assassin takes the reader through an alternate world where people delve into dungeons to grow stronger, Skills bring magic to life, and the world rebuilds. All while Claire kills anyone whose name appears on her list. With magic, dungeons, and twists, you're likely to love, or love to hate, this killer teenager.

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Hope is the Thing With Feathers

by Jeannette Bedard

Release Date: March 15, 2023

Five years after her father's airship crashed on the surface of New Venus, Stella is consumed by the desire to uncover the truth about his failed mission. When she hears that another airship is heading down, she stows away. As she descends, Stella uncovers secrets about her father's past and the true nature of the world she lives on.

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Sorcerer's Playground (Go Ask Your Mother Book 1)

by Theophilus Monroe & Michael Anderle

Release Date: February 28, 2023

Tom Gregory was once a powerful battlemage. Now, he’s a husband and a father, settled into a cozy suburban life. He hasn’t cast a spell in years. When an old foe returns, looking for revenge, Gregory has no choice but to tap into his arcane power again.

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Touch of Faete (Bradaís Pledge Book 1)

by Ligia de Wit

Release Date: March 21, 2023

Ryanne’s fae gift of foresight makes her a target for bradaís or—as her pixie companion Bricius calls them—pirates. When bradaí Titus kidnaps her, Ryanne must face the truth of her power or lose it forever.

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The Crystal Key (The Dream Rider Saga Book 2)

by Douglas Smith

Release Date: March 15, 2023

Dark secrets lead the Dream Rider, the agoraphobic teenage superhero, and his girlfriend, a street survivor whose voices warn of danger, to a strange world where warring cults fight for an ancient relic. To escape, the two friends must master strange new powers that grow wilder the closer they draw to the truth. Indiana Jones meets Teen Titans in The Crystal Key, book 2 in The Dream Rider Saga.

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The Many Shades of Midnight

by C M Debell

Release Date: February 1, 2023

When a mysterious enemy threatens Lankara, spreading a deadly sickness, apprentice surgeon Brivar is attached to an embassy to the exiled Duke of Agrathon to beg his aid. But the man they have come to find is already touched by the contagion. Can Brivar prevent the man who was supposed to save a nation from becoming the thing that destroys it?

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