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Author Spotlight: Ian Conner - Book Tour and Giveaway

3/9/2023

24 Comments

 
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Griffin's Perch
by Ian Conner
Genre: Epic Fantasy 
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Fantasy genre lovers will appreciate having many of their favorite creatures not only in the same story but cooperating toward the same goals. Strong female characters that make a true difference and without whom there would be no story. Mermaids, Pixies, Dragons, Wizards, Elves, and assorted other fantastical characters fill the pages.

Imagine the Mageborn series, with a scoop of Paolini’s Eragon, a dash of Tolkien’s creative mastery and a sprinkling of Matthew Reilly’s action sequences, plus a little corny humour and romance thrown in for good measure. The story is UNPREDICTABLE and full of twists.

Conner is a master of world building. He shows great craftsmanship, and the reader becomes easily enveloped within the environments. The combination of diverse characters, unique mythical cities and complex plot lines have created a tale that is highly original, as well as memorable. Action sequences are fast-paced, yet clear, showing skill that is reminiscent of authors such as Matthew Reilly.

Characters are a work of art, exciting and intriguing, and the storyline is a masterpiece. It has depth and mystery with every page you turn; it is smooth and well written. Capture is another word that fits and is what will happen to you as you involve yourself in the book.

Not since the Dragon Riders of Pern has the bond between rider and beast played such an important role. This new twist on Griffins and the Delphens allowed for a much-needed change of pace, as does the lack of reliance on human characters to save the day.

Julia Hugh’s Griffin Rider Chronicles (Talon Press 2013) used Griffins, but these griffins are unlike anything Julia Hugh imagined. False Dragons employs a much more action-laden approach. This action and, more importantly, depth and diversity of characters will keep readers engaged and turning the pages.

False Dragons is certain to attract a large following of fans unquestioningly hungry for a new approach to fantasy

This epic fantasy is like all good epic fantasies where the world building is impressive. The only completely original species created are the Delphens, and Conner does a great job of creating their biology, social structure, and characteristics while making them individuals. Delphens were once a mostly farming community, but dragons and griffins transformed some into a corps of warriors. The Griffin Corps can use their physical strength, hardiness, and closeness to nature to bond with and ride the griffins. They treat the griffins like more than just dumb steeds. They share consciousness, mind links, and emotions. The Delphens' relationships with their griffins are that of friends, companions, and siblings in arms.

Two of the best Delphens are Shala and Flinch. Flinch is a quick-witted sometimes comic relief who has a running gag of dismounting badly. However, he also has inherited precognitive abilities, which requires him to have some dark visions. For him, this quest is one of maturity, as he has to shed his childlike impetuosity.

Even with characters that are common in other fantasies, Conner does different things with them. Pixies are present with their mischievous and naughtiness. One of the more humorous characters is Glow, a sweet, energetic pixy who will give any information if you provide enough sugary snacks for a bribe. However, what we see is that their sense of mischief has harmful long-term implications, plus they, Glow in particular, suffered a tremendous loss in the past.

The Merfolk are described here as they often are in legends: attractive, but stand offish and prone to emotion. However, they are capable of assisting others and looking at the big picture that what affects everyone else will affect them.

Of course there are the various romances, interspecies friendships and allies, and tremendous loss that develops during these struggles.



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​Denrael had stewarded the forest for a very long time.  He had one final task to perform before he could rest.  He continued to stare out over the vast areas of green and the huge blackened scar across the area under his care.  For nearly three eons he served as nature's guardian. 
Throughout the war he also protected, trained and fought alongside the Delphens.  Fearless, they made excellent companions for Griffins.  Their caring nature, drive to protect both their own and willingness to look after other creatures made them
friends to all.  Their honor and willingness to battle evil drew the Griffins to them-as friends and soldiers together fighting the darkness that, at that time, spread across the land.
    Denrael stepped back from the precipice and climbed aboard Glory’s back in front of her huge wings.  It took a bit of finesse for Denrael to get up there.  Glory stood sixteen feet tall at the shoulder. She had a fifty-foot wingspan and weighing in at nearly 3 tons.  Glory was a force that few could compare with.  There were only two Griffins larger.  Havoc, Shala’s white Stonehenge, eighteen feet at the shoulder and six tons.  Her wingspan reached an amazing seventy-five feet.  The other was Savage, another white female Stonehenge almost as large as Havoc but with an ill temper for anyone but Shala and her rider Flinch.
     “Glory, I’m much too old for those kind of hi-jinx.”Denrael shouted over the rushing wind into the griffin’s ear.
Glory emitted a low growl that Denrael came to identify as a Griffin’s version of laughter. Glory used the momentum to rise up and a few flaps of her massive wings put her high enough to land on a ledge outside the Elder’s council chambers.  The council chambers also doubled as a headquarters of sorts for the Griffin Corps.  Denrael slid down Glory’s neck.

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Cooper's Ridge
by Ian Conner
Genre: Science Fiction

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Captivating and engaging sci-fi and adventure the author expertly navigates the themes of space colonization, human existence, and the more personal themes of loss, grief, and moving on with one’s life after loss. The multiple POVs allowed readers to experience this expansive world the author crafted, showing everything from the discovery of this lush new world to the harrowing brush with death the protagonist has and the shifting perspectives that make the audience constantly question whom they can trust and whom they cannot.

The alien races are very enticing, especially the main villains. The story showcases some great mind-bending technologies and tools of war. The space journeys felt like descriptions of military ships in the ocean. This incredible story filled with interstellar conspiracy, betrayal, government corruption and foreign planets. Despite the settings, human greed and opportunism are never far behind and explored throughout the book.

The switch between multiple characters is seamless. All the characters are interesting with a flair of mystery and realism. The views and opinions were divided from the start. From then, the reader knows they are in for a rollercoaster ride. The story escalates and the situation becomes more and more critical. The characters are fascinating, the story unfolds and ended with a heartwarming finale.

This book has a strong opening that keeps readers hooked from start to finish, the characters are multifaceted, the narrative is absorbing, and the dialogues are sharp.


This book is, in a word, riveting. The multiple subplots set across the earth and various places in space make for an enticing read. Space travel, new age technology, politics, threats against humanity, compelling characters, conspiracy theories, backstabbing, and shrewd enemies will keep you entertained. No one concept in this story is far-fetched; humans are capable of both the good and the evil that happens in this book. If you love sci-fi and political thrillers, then don’t miss this book.


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​The feed to 5G showed the rock face sheer off. You could hear them screaming over the falling rocks. No comments were needed, and Sergeant. Mark Kestrel killed the feed to 5G with a touch of the info pad. It was a bitter moment for Kestrel. All this time in service and now this. He motioned and looked at Kat Reichert and Cassie Wells.           
“Congratulations, Doc and Cassie, you’re dead.”           
Both uncovered their ears and stood looking at Kestrel and the two other 5G specialists. The screams had been genuine enough. The teens were severely frightened by the explosion and the sound of the rock face sliding down. It blocked the trail that they had been using it. The dirt and dust plume had been enough to obscure what happened, but not for long.           
“Get the kids started down.” Kestrel told Kat           
“Cassie, I just kissed off one hell of a pension package. Don’t make me regret it!” Kestrel told her.
“Thank you. You did the right thing.” Cassie said, kissing his cheek.           
“Killing kids is not part of our job description. Those two didn’t sign up for that either.”           
Kestrel pointed to the two specialists helping the kids past the fallen rock.          
“How long have you been watching us?” Cassie inquired with raised eyebrows.        
She was honestly curious.          
“Do you remember when you went to see Natalie Willard?” Kestrel asked.
“That long?” Cassie said, shocked.

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​**Don't miss the rest of Ian Conner's books!**

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​Find them on:

​Amazon * BlackRaptorBooks * Bookbub * Goodreads


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Ian Conner is retired and spent most of his adult life as a Marine and Army Infantry Sergeant. A hundred percent disabled veteran after multiple head and other injuries, he is part of a growing number of vets classified as “neuro-diverse”, an MST survivor and have several issues such regarding comprehension, concentration, and vision issues that he has OVERCOME to write several novels. After witnessing a lifetime of destruction, the thought of creating something tangible and lasting holds great appeal.

He finds writing a cathartic way to redefine himself both in his eyes and in the eyes of others. Writing for fun, Ian has completed seven novels with an eighth near done with two more ideas in the scribble/chapter phase. He has written across four genres Fantasy, Thriller, Science Fiction and Horror.

He uses ProWritingAid, Beta Readers and professional editors keep the product readable, he has recently begun querying in search of a professional agent and publisher.

Now living near San Diego California with his wife Bonnie, a cellist, and their two dogs, Cookie and Isabella. Conner spends his days fostering kittens, gardening, crafting beautiful stained glass and creating worlds on the page.


Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads


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Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

I am proud to say they are all my imagination. 
Characters are the lifeblood of the stories and I actually have a harder time with character profiles than plotlines. Keeping them original and believable takes some effort. I manage to find images that fit what I have written after the fact to use in graphics and advertising.

Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.
 These two books, Griffin's Perch & Cooper's Ridge, in particular, are labors of love written during extremely difficult times in my life. The stories are compelling. The characters are relatable. Griffin's Perch is fantasy totally unreliant on human characters but chocked full of beings readers will recognize and root for. Mermaids, Pixies
Elves, Wizards and Griffins with a whole new slant. New beings also fill Cooper's Ridge. Familiar but new.

Anything specific you want to tell your readers?
My time in the military has left me with several cognitive issues that make writing extremely difficult. I have taken up the challenge and completed six novels
with seven and eight coming out soon. I am an open book and love getting emails from readers. Complaints are just as welcome as compliments and questions. 

Who designed your book covers?
100Covers.com.  I have been EXTREMELY pleased with the results. They bend over backwards to make you happy, assign a project manager to each cover & author individually and the teams are top notch. Extremely reasonable.
 
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
Eight months to a year. The cognitive difficulties means constantly rereading so I remember what I was doing. Taking a break really throws me for a loop. I am in awe of authors who can pound out a book in two months. James Patterson is an amazing writer and so prolific. 
 
Do you believe in writer’s block?
Oh Yes.  Thank goodness for my garden, koi and chickens when blocks come up.  I have to step back. As an author, you cannot let blocks freak you out. It is all part of the business. Focus on the characters and tale the rest will take care of itself. 

What do you think about the current publishing market?
It is bloody BRUTAL. I hate looking at rankings on Amazon. There are MILLIONS of books self-published annually. Agents are looking for the next big thing and reject manuscripts out of hand. Publishers are also rejection machines. The current market is full of charlatans who promise sales, perfect editing, promotions, and every other service you can think of promising to make your book the next Harry Potter. MOST are not worth the money or trouble. It is a little disheartening, especially for first-time authors, to those who have learned the hard way.  That being said, I continue to query agents and publishers. My rule is for every rejection I get, I send out three more queries.

Do you have any advice to offer for new authors?
Get a good editor. They are expensive, but I would rather see a newbie spend the money there rather than on all the other promises made to new authors by the publishing industrial complex. Writers are too CLOSE to their work. Grammar, typos, logic error, timeline error, unnecessary subplots-Editors are essential in getting brutal with you about the mistakes authors have made.

What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first?
I am a PANTSER.  I sit down and write. no outlines, no character lists or planning.  What comes out of the pen point onto the page is what goes into first drafts.  I actually use pen and paper to write my books.  A typist and proofreader puts it into digital form for me. 


 I love animals.  We have two dogs, Bella and Cookie. Six Chickens, a ton of koi in a pond in our backyard.  Our garden is a paradise. My wife is a cellist and has such a green thumb. We have been married 30 years. I cannot imagine my life without her and dedicate most of my books to her.


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Inside the Insanity
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24 Comments
Marcy Meyer
3/9/2023 06:21:41 am

The looks amazing. I enjoyed the excerpt. Sounds very interesting.

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Beyond Comps
3/9/2023 06:51:54 am

I like the sound of this.

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wendy hutton
3/9/2023 01:55:29 pm

amazing cover, congrats on the release

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Jon Heil
3/9/2023 02:04:07 pm

Hope can make it around and find more life

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Rita Wray
3/9/2023 03:30:32 pm

The books sound great.

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Sherry
3/9/2023 05:17:31 pm

The books sound good.

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bn100
3/9/2023 08:44:51 pm

nice interview

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Terri Quick
3/9/2023 10:23:29 pm

Cool cover

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Wendy Jensen
3/10/2023 11:12:08 am

The book details sound like an epic fantasy.

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Valerie Seal
3/10/2023 01:04:43 pm

Looks OK

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Heather Mahley
3/10/2023 05:34:54 pm

sounds great

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Susan Smith
3/12/2023 08:41:08 pm

This sounds like a great book. I like the cover.

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Miss Quinn
3/12/2023 08:58:09 pm

Sounds great!

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Ann Fantom
3/14/2023 09:23:37 pm

This sounds like an interesting book and I also like the cover.


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Angela Heerde
3/14/2023 10:28:26 pm

I like book details

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David Hollingsworth
3/15/2023 03:12:12 am

The cover and the book sound riveting.

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David Basile
3/15/2023 11:08:19 am

sounds like a great book

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Brandy - Monday
3/15/2023 11:27:54 am

This sounds great!

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Danielle Day
3/15/2023 05:53:03 pm

It sounds good.

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beth shepherd
3/16/2023 12:37:11 pm

This looks like a great read.

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Debbi Wellenstein
3/16/2023 03:55:23 pm

I enjoyed the excerpt. Thank you for the giveaway!

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Ellie Wright
3/18/2023 04:00:20 pm

Sounds like a great book. I'm looking forward to reading it.

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Mishelle G
3/21/2023 08:56:39 am

Oh!! I love humanity stuck looking for a new planet in outer space books. I grew up on the original Battlestar Gallactica and Space 1999

Mishelle G

Reply
Robin Abrams
3/24/2023 07:21:15 pm

This sounds like a great read.

Reply



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