Blog Archives
Hello! 😀
Welcome to my little corner here!
When I’m not calling myself Amos, as part of Amos Cassidy – the writing duo featuring yours truly and the fabulous Cassidy; aka Debbie Cassidy, I also go by the name Richard-James Amos. Cassidy and myself share a brain, but we also have some stories and things that linger in our heads that need to be told alone, not as the loopy twosome.
I’m a daydreamer, someone who likes to hop onto his dragon and take to the skies, off to see what I can find above and below and to the side. My head is always up there with the stars. One of them is a good friend of mine. His name is Bill and he’s a diamond! Oh, and he makes a mean cup of tea…knows how to get the balance of milk and tea just right…
I currently have a novel in progress, one that keeps me up at night – as do the coming Amos Cassidy projects! It looks like it might be a two-book story, but who knows where it will lead… Loving it! Oh, did I mention we’re currently working on Crimson Chaos, the 4th book in the Crimson Series? 😉 Also loving it!Â
I will keep you posted on my solo novel’s progress as the months roll by 😀 And keep an eye out for some short fiction and things from me on here too 🙂
Cheers very much!
Love,
RichardÂ
HAWTHORN COVER REVEAL!
HERE IS THE COVER FOR OUR BRAND NEW YOUNG ADULT HORROR/FANTASY WRITING AS JAMIE CASSIDY…
HAWTHORN
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000040_00008]](https://amoscassidy.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/hawthorn-ebook-james-cassidy.jpg)
PRE-ORDER HAWTHORN NOW VIA THE LINKS BELOW!
RELEASE DATE: 28TH MAY 2015
Cover Reveal
Check out this upcoming new release from A R DeClerk – Love In The Time Of Coffee is a contemporary geek chic romance. Sweet and bitter and beautifully written. Â Check out the gorgeous cover courtesy of Rachel Olson at No Sweat Graphics.
BLURB
Life as a geeky math chick with little patience and time for men is never easy. When a handsome stranger spills a caramel macchiato all over her term paper Irissa Daniels thinks her luck just might be a ‘changin. Mac McCleary is tough, smart and sexy and he treats Irissa like the only woman in the world. Things are going great, but life seems to get in the way. Mac’s dad is sick, his business is in trouble and his only hope to keep it going is to get involved with a very shady character. Soon Irissa begins to wonder if she and Mac will make it to happily- ever-after after all.
Love in the Time of Coffee is very complicated indeed.
GRAB Â YOUR COPY 22nd MAY 2015!
Meet Kayti Nika Raet!
Hello!
As part of our Dystopia month, we have the wonderful Kayti Nika Raet down for a visit. Kayti is the author of The Outsider Chronicles (five book series. Three out so far) a YA dystopia featuring a badass girl with a baseball bat. Set in a world where the rain burns like acid and flesh-eating monsters roam…
Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Kayti Nika Raet moved down South when she was 11, where she was bitten by the writing bug, as well as other, less friendly insects.Â
She is the author of the Outsider Chronicles, a five book series starting with NIKO and set in a world where the rain burns like acid and flesh eating monsters roam.
She’s also a reviewer for Readers’ Favorite and has her own Youtube Channel: Kayti Edition.
When she is not hard at work on her fourth book she has fun reading, listening to K-pop, and photography.
Kayti lives in Milledgeville, Georgia.
Now for some questions…
So, when did you know that you wanted to be a writer? Was there a single moment of clarity or did the knowledge just creep up on you?
I was always writing, and telling stories, but it wasn’t until I was fourteen that becoming a writer became an active goal of mine. And it wasn’t until I was twenty-two that I finally succeeded!
Tell us about your writing schedule. Do you write everyday? At the weekends? Or, like us, whenever you get the chance?
I try to write a thousand words a day and take a couple of days off every two weeks, but lately, that hasn’t been happening and now I write whenever I have the chance. Â
What is it about the Dystopian genre that inspires you?
I think it’s the fact that Dystopia at its heart, is a failed Utopia. It’s a world where an attempt at stability and structure in the face of epic disaster moved to the extreme of repression, “other-ing”, and control. And while most dystopias focus on the future, it’s actually quite easy to find dystopian elements in history: Rome, the Antebellum American South, World War II Germany, Post War Eastern Europe, etc. They provide good templates to write by, and I’ve always found the distortion of theories and ideals fascinating.
If you could step into any Dystopian future what would it be and why?
All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin. Even though water is strictly rationed, the mafia runs everything, and things like chocolate and coffee are illegal, there are no zombies, or death matches, so my chances of survival are quite high!
Zombies are busting down your door, what four objects do you grab? Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
These are slow zombies, right? If not, I’m totally dead…
Duct tape, sturdy pair of boots, hatchet, water bottle.
I’d probably get bit anyway because I have no endurance whatsoever, but hopefully I can take out a few before that happens!
How do your storylines evolve? Do you already have it planned where you want to go, or do you let the story take you along with it?
I usually know what’s going to happen in the first few chapters, and I’ll have a vague idea about the climax, but most of the time I let the story and characters take the lead.
If you could choose any Dystopian book in the world to have written which one would it be and why?
Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. It’s more post-apocalyptic than full blown dystopian, but the trilogy was very engaging.The writing style is very sparse, and the pacing is much slower than I would normally write, but I love how she set up a society forced to live around zombies. Not to mention the creative ways they make use of them in the cities.
If you could be any character from a book who would it be and why?
I answered this question in a previous interview and the answer remains the same. Anya from All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin. She’s the daughter of a black market chocolate dealer, things in her world have seriously gone to pot but despite everything she’s really cool, and smart, and resilient.
What advice would you give to other writers of Dystopian fiction out there who are thinking of self-publishing their work?
Edit, edit, edit.
Oh, and find a community of writers, be engaging, not spammy on social media, and realize that writing your book is the easy part.
Who is, or are, your favourite author(s)?
Dia Reeves, Justine Larbalestier, Brandon Sanderson, Sarah Rees Brennan, Scott Westerfeld… I can go on…
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Okay, some quick fire questions! Don’t think too hard. Just answer…
Super Villain or Super Hero?
Super Villain. Way more fun!
Ice-cream or chocolate?
Chocolate.
Beach or the skiing holiday?
Beach. I like the water.
Keep the One Ring or throw it in Mount Doom?
That’s a Lord of the Rings reference. Haven’t read, or watched it, so I can’t say.
Audio or book?
Book. My brain goes on tangents with audio and I miss a lot.
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Zombie Apocalypse weapon of choice: Axe or Shotgun?
Axe. It’s simple, multi-purpose, effective. Also I don’t have to spend time hunting for shotgun shells… not to mention making sure I’ve got the right kind.
You can find Kayti…
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Introducing Brea Behn!
Hiya, peeps!Â
Today we are joined by author Brea Behn. Brea loves all things dystopian and will be telling us a little about herself, answering a few fun questions and introducing us to her fantastic Dystopian read ‘Wolves in the Woods’
So let’s get started with a little bit about Brea:
Brea Behn is very passionate about reading and writing in all genres. She started writing at the age of fifteen, when she wrote a memoir for her twin brother. Currently, she writes fiction of several genres, nonfiction, and is building her career as an author and public speaker.
When Brea is not writing, she is reading, usually several books at the same time. She also volunteers at her local humane society, gardens, and homeschools her children.
Brea lives in Wisconsin with her husband and their two children.
And to put a face to the name:
Now, Brea, we have a few fun questions for you to answer. So sit tight, pour yourself a drink and lets chinwag gabby:
So, when did you know that you wanted to be a writer? Was there a single moment of clarity or did the knowledge just creep up on you?
I have written since I was little. I never took it seriously until a tragedy happened in my life. Then writing became very important to me. A place of processing and healing. That evolved into pure love of writing which led to me pursuing publication.
Tell us about your writing schedule. Do you write everyday? At the weekends? Or, like us, whenever you get the chance?
I am like you! I write whenever I can fit it in. Usually very early or very late when everyone else in the house is sleeping.
What is it about the Dystopian genre that inspires you?
I am drawn to the dystopian genre because it almost always involves going through something incredibly difficult and coming out better for it or learning something from it in the end.
If you could step into any Dystopian future what would it be and why?
That is a hard question for the very definition of dystopian is that it will be hard! I guess if I had to choose I would say a future like one in the movie the Postman. Where decades had gone by and a time of change was happening. Both because there is hope on the horizon and because the challenges they face are normal ones (not zombies, a scorched planet or aliens!).
 Zombies are busting down your door, what four objects do you grab?Â
A gun, a knife, a torch and a pre-packed supply pack. Taking no chances!
How do your storylines evolve? Do you already have it planned where you want to go, or do you let the story take you along with it?
I am a ride it and see where it takes me author. It is so fun and sometimes shocks me greatly!
If you could choose any Dystopian book in the world to have written which one would it be and why?
The Stand by Stephen King. He is my favourite author, but also because it is a work that would take some authors a lifetime to complete. What an accomplishment! Having his pay check and fame wouldn’t hurt my feelings either.
If you could be any character from a book who would it be and why?
I would love to be Katniss from Hunger Games. I admire her strength, her defiance and her bravery. She is a perfect example of why I love dystopian. A character that refused to accept her life and her world as it was and through her actions and influence was able to change it for the better.
What advice would you give to other writers of Dystopian fiction out there who are thinking of self-publishing their work?
I hope to read it some day! I would also give the practical advice of being sure their work is professionally edited. That is a very important thing in today’s world of publishing. No matter which route you choose to publish in.
 Who is, or are, your favourite author(s)?
Stephen King. The original dystopian master. I have read his work since I was in junior high. I greatly admire his tell it like it is form of writing. I strive to do so myself.
Okay, some quick fire questions! Don’t think too hard. Just answer…
Super Villain or Super Hero?
Super villain. I am always drawn to the bad guy you both love and hate.
Ice-cream or chocolate?
Ice-cream. Don’t throw anything at me, but I don’t like chocolate. My twin brother liked chocolate, so I like vanilla. Twins are like that and it never really goes away.
Beach or the skiing holiday?
Beach! I live in Wisconsin. I can ski, snow mobile, sled or ice skate here. A beach is a real treat!
Keep the One Ring or throw it in Mount Doom?
Throw it into Mount Doom. Evil can never be controlled it can only control you. That is why it is evil.
Audio or book?
Can I say either? Although non-fiction I prefer in book form so I can take notes.
Zombie Apocalypse weapon of choice: Axe or Shotgun?
Shotgun. Less goo on yourself. I am a bit of a germ phobe, lol.
Wow! Thanks so much for taking the time to come visit, Brea. We hope you’ll come again, but in the meantime, peeps, take a butchers at Wolves in the Woods :
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Grab your copy now!
You can also find Brea on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and youtube.
www.facebook.com/authorbreabehn
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NEW NOVEL!
HI!
We’re back in the self-publishing realm after some months of pondering and things! We’ve got some projects we’ll be publishing traditionally, but we also want to keep our feet in the waters of indie publishing 😀
So our new novel is now available for pre-order on Amazon Kindle. It’s called Aurora – a Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian Romance – releasing on 27th February 2015. Woo Hoo! Links below! 🙂
Three hundred years ago humanity almost eradicated itself…almost, but not quite. As is the persistence of human kind, we hung on; we survived, but the world as we knew it was changed forever. The exact details of what happened have been lost in time. All we know is that this is our world now and we have no choice but to live in it.
Oz and his sister True have been travelling for as long as they can remember. Ma feels that staying on the move is safe, that it prevents them getting lazy and complacent. It’s a better way to avoid bandits and raiders, a more effective way to stay alive. But the thing, the person that protects them is Oz – a lethal fighter who will go to any lengths to defend his family.
Oz makes money from cage fights while dreaming of a better life for them all – a home where they can be truly safe. True dreams of freedom, love and hope and just when she thinks she’s found it their world is turned upside down and they are forced to embark on a journey that rips them apart. For when True is taken by an unknown enemy Oz must enlist the help of a man from the shadows to save her.
A Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopian Romance, filled with action, adventure and fantasy.
AMAZON UK
AMAZON US
NEW RELEASE: Sleeping with Beauty (Tales from Beyond the Veil – Volume 3)
Here is volume 3 in the Tales from Beyond the Veil series, ‘Sleeping with Beauty’ 🙂 Now available on Amazon Kindle 🙂
Deep in the Forest of Forever, Silver lives an unremarkable life. Betrothed to the River Clan heir Riven, and the darling of her own clan, she is cosseted and pampered, until one day when her accidental eavesdropping alerts her to imminent danger. She flees her home, stumbling into the Ebony Forest and into the clutches of the twisted Vice.
Vice is man cursed, a man filled with nothing but emptiness and Silver is simply another plaything for his potential amusement.
Silver’s life is suddenly filled with unknown danger. She has only two choices; succeed in breaking the curse, or perish trying…
Amazon Links:
AMAZON US
 AMAZON UK
RIDING RED AND TAINTED SNOW REVIEWS!
Check out these awesome reviews of Riding Red and Tainted Snow by the fabulous Laura at:Â http://a-reader-lives-a-thousand-lives.blogspot.co.uk/
Click on the pictures below to take you to the reviews 🙂
RIDING RED
TAINTED SNOW
Book Review – Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb
BOOK REVIEW:Â
ASSASSIN’S APPRENTICE
BY ROBIN HOBB
BLURB:
In a faraway land where members of the royal family are named for the virtues they embody, one young boy will become a walking enigma.
Born on the wrong side of the sheets, Fitz, son of Chivalry Farseer, is a royal bastard, cast out into the world, friendless and lonely. Only his magical link with animals – the old art known as the Wit – gives him solace and companionship. But the Wit, if used too often, is a perilous magic, and one abhorred by the nobility.
So when Fitz is finally adopted into the royal household, he must give up his old ways and embrace a new life of weaponry, scribing, courtly manners; and how to kill a man secretly, as he trains to become a royal assassin.
REVIEW:
This is the first book in the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb…
Right from the beginning, this story had an intense, emotional impact. Fitz’s life is laced with a painful sadness and my eyes did mist over on many occasion. Hobb’s incredible writing, her skill at weaving a beautiful, visceral sentence, pulled at the heartstrings. But there was not only sadness. There was mystery, action, political intrigue, wonderful characters, amazing word-building and delicious writing.
Fitz is a wonderful character and a great narrator, really pulling you into the world with his voice, sharing his experiences and pieces of history from The Six Duchies. Not only is this a fantasy story, but one about growing up, about finding yourself in a tough world, and even one about family. Fitz is our guide, taking us on a journey through his younger years to his teens, our eyes through which we see an amazing yet cruel world, a world adrift in strange times. His is  a life of pain and discovery. I cannot wait to read the second volume of the trilogy (Royal Assassin) and see how it all pans out.
I have to say that The Fool is my favourite character! I won’t say anything further about him, just that I think he is awesome! 🙂
If you love fantasy, I highly recommended this feast of a novel! Happy Reading! 🙂
5 STARS! *****
amoscassidy 