I’m going to be hosting a 30 minute takeover slot at the cover reveal party for ‘Hart of Country’ by Kris Nacole on Sunday. I’m excited – it’s going to be so much fun! Why not pop over and join us? I’ll be discussing my soon to be released fantasy ‘A Chronicle of Chaos’ as well as a brand new project I’ve started š
https://www.facebook.com/events/768043390006722/
Inspiration for The Phoenix Project
The Phoenix Project is a story that is very close to my heart. I had the original idea in 2002 and it has slowly grown with the input of a variety of influences and inspirations.
Raven Kennedy: Raven began as the villain, Vincent, in my first novel āDead Endā (an idea which never came to fruition). The plot didnāt work, but I adored his character so I kept him and developed him more as an antagonist in the fantasy world of āThe Light and Shadow Chroniclesā (You may have met him in the first of the series, āA Chronicle of Chaosā).
I loved the character so much that I took the idea of him and developed it in another directionāinto the dark and depressed Raven in my next novel, āThe Phoenix Project.ā
Having worked with Raven for so long, I am very emotionally attached to him. Even though he is fictional, I feel that he is a part of my heart and soul. Hence this tattoo:
Raven also features as a major character in āThe Light and Shadow Chronicles.ā I donāt think I will ever write a book that doesnāt have Raven in it in some way. He is my muse and my access to my creativity.
The decline of religion: Religion plays an important role in my life, which is unusual, as I am agnostic. I feel that faith is beautiful and special. I, sadly, am not lucky enough to have it myself, but I donāt understand why people blame religion for the worldās problems. I wanted to portray a world which was clearly worse for the decline of religion in an attempt to show the benefits of faith.
Salverford prison: I travelled a lot whilst I was writing āThe Phoenix Projectā and many of the places that I visited helped to fuel my imagination and give depth to my work. On a trip to Rome, I visited the Colosseum and was inspired by the ancient building. The exhibits on gladiators gave me a deeper understanding of the life of a person forced to fight to the death. I was able to pick out certain details and use them in āThe Phoenix Projectā ā such as the type of food gladiators were given to eat.
I also spent some time in Krakow, Poland, and visited Aushwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Iāll never forget the horror of the place, particularly Block 11, the torture and incarceration block. The long, thin cell which Raven passes in the Ruby Tower dungeons comes directly from a cell I saw at Auschwitz-Birkenau. The descriptions of smoke billowing from small chimneys also come from things I saw at Auschwitz.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Block_11
The place which gave me the most inspiration for Salverford, especially the underground cellars of Ruby Tower and the dark room, was the Terror Haza Museum in Budapest. This museum is the old offices of the Soviet Union Stasi and, later, The Nazi partyās Gestapo. Underneath the building, in the cold, dark cellars, is a grim and depressing dungeon of tiny, damp cells and a crushing sense of futility. I crept inside one of the waist-high cells and sat in pitch darkness and felt despair crowding in on me. This is where the ādark roomā was born.
For more information on the Terror Haza Museum, visit:
http://www.terrorhaza.hu/en/museum/about_us.html
The Colosseum:
I love the city of Rome. Iāve visited three times and have loved it more every time! Setting the finale in Rome fitted in well with the religion theme and gave the novel a focus, but I also enjoyed writing about a place I loved so dearly. The Colosseum was a great place for Raven to end up as an ironic safe place.
As I was coming close to finishing āThe Phoenix Projectā, I was preparing myself to write the epilogue about Rome. My incredibly thoughtful husband surprised and delighted me by treating me to a holiday in Rome for Valentineās day in 2010. It meant that I was able to write that final chapter in Rome itself.
Buy āThe Phoenix Projectā:
Nook:
http://www.nook.com/gb/ebooks/the-phoenix-project-by-dm-cain/2940157645656
Amazon:
US http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0195A6AYK
UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0195A6AYK
Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-phoenix-project-dm-cain/1123117161
iTunes:
My psychological dystopian thriller The Phoenix Project has a brand-new mini trailer! I’m so happy with the results š
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXvGZoQ_Ftc
Want your own teaser trailer? This was from a fiverr gig, which you can access here: https://uk.fiverr.com/nomansalehzada/create-animated-book-cover-intro-video
My 4Wills blog tour for The Phoenix Project will take place over the next few weeks, stopping at the blogs of lots of wonderful writers. To see where I’ll be on each day, check out the tour schedule here:
https://4willspublishing.wordpress.com/upcoming-events/blog-tour-author-d-m-cain/Ā Ā
You can also win some goodies!
I am giving away two free book bundles, where you can win a signed paperback of The Phoenix Project, plus a paperback of my children’s book, Soren.
The first stop on our tour starts today at the blog of the wonderful John Fioravanti, where you can learn about the changes from the first to the second edition of The Phoenix Project:
http://fiorabooks.com/introducing-d-m-cains-the-phoenix-project-2nd-edition/
Donāt miss my Author Party Event (http://4Wills-DMCain.chatovod.com/) on Friday, January 15th at 1pm CST!!
The Eye of Mares Blog Tour
To celebrate the release of the second instalment in the Rise of the Elohim chronicles, the Eye of Mares is going to blog hopping like a headlining rockstar, multiple showings for over the course of two weeks, with a new page shared with each appearance, continuing from where the last one went off and today I get to host the latest page:
The Eye of Mares ā Part 22
ā¦āWhat news?ā Mako probed.
An illness of an unknown origin, has taken hold of Retina. Already half of its inhabitants have fallen seriously ill and the islandās doctor is struggling to identify the cause.
āThat is most serious, but we are warriors, not doctors. Just what is it you expect us to do about it?ā
Well, for starters, I believe the illness may well be the work of the Shanzi.
āShanzi? I can see how you would make such a conclusion. We both know of a Shanzi who fits the bill.ā
You refer to Shaymon, bringer of diseases?
āI do, and furthermore, if Shaymon is the cause, than it only stands to reason that Mongra and Stavros are too.ā Dark thoughts filled Makoās mind. If all three were roaming Mares, true danger lay in wait. Together, the combined powers of Darkariās sons and trusted Generals overwhelmed that of the Shanzi Kingās. āIf they are indeed the freed Shanzi, we must find all three at once.ā
I am of the same mind and I believe I may have already found all three of them. Izalās words sparked hope inside Mako.
āLet mind form words and make them heard,ā Mako replied immediately, eager to know.
On Pupill, some mouths let slip a story of a phantom wolf. One that came to their little island in the dark of night before it was slain by Cooper, the resident Watcher.
āHow long ago did such an incident occur? I never heard of this.ā
If the accounts I have heard are true, it was the same night that you and Zach drew swords against Shimay.
āStavros has been known to take the form of a great wolf and Pupill is just the kind of place he would strike.ā
Again, I am of the same mind.
āAnd you say the phantom wolf was defeated byā¦
****Here concludes todays Page****
Be sure to pick up a copy direct from Amazon: The Eye of Mares ā Out now!
You could even let the adventure continue and check out its prequel, where the story began and the series was created: The Spirit of Iris ā Out now!
****Book specifics****
Author: Rocky Rochford
Illustrator: Ashleigh Longman
Title: The Eye of Mares
Series: Book 2 of the Rise of the Elohim Chronicles
Genre: Illustrated YA fantasy adventure
Book Content Rating: Suitable for ages 12 and up
Tag-line: āDarkness has many forms and Mares is its playground.ā
Blurb:
Nearly four years have passed since Zach drew blade against the Shanzi Shimay and now the time has come for him to draw his sword once more. The Realm of Mares has fallen victim to invasion as three terrifying beasts of darkness, seek to destroy the world around them, as they await the inevitable arrival of their King.
With dark times ahead, the numbers of the Watchers on Iris has grown, as Zach is joined by seven fellow students, all too eager to prove their worth. It’s not long before the students are put to the test facing off against the Nein Navy and uncover a dark secret.
The stage is set and the Battle for Mares is under-way.Ā
Ā
Rocky Rochford Biography
Rocky Rochford is your standard guy, if your standard guy scuba dives, partakes in underwater photographer and is a wake-boarding, adventure seeking, sword collecting, marine conservation supporter. After living life on the road and the places between, he finally settled down but not without benefiting from all the lessons life had to teach him.
Self-professed āStudent of Everything, and Master of Nothing,ā Rochford does not choose what he writes, but writes what chooses him, be it fantasy, crime, poetry, philosophy or even adventure. Life is a journey we all get to experience, just like a good book.
Every read into another of his typed works is another trip into the imagination of his mixed up, crazed and deranged mind and this year along those works include the likes of full novels and novellas such as:
London Calling ā a Deep Water Novel (Spy Thriller)
Donāt Even Blink ā Part of the Donāt Turn Around Trilogy (Horror)
Wait and Bleed ā The Donāt Turn Around Collection (Horror collection of the entire Donāt Trilogy)
And now The Eye of Mares ā Book 2 of the Rise of the Elohim Chronicles (Illustrated YA fantasy adventure)Ā
Other works released by him, are a number of short stories pertaining to horror, paranormal and romance, as well as other works released as part of an anthology:
The Devil You Know (Paranormal short)
Salt in the Wound ā Part of the Entwined Saga (Paranormal short)
The Food of Love (featuring Him & Her) ā An Anthology by Solstice Publishing (Romance filled Anthology)
Him & Her (Romance Standalone release)
Donāt Say A Word (Horror)
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Volume II (featuring The Devil Before) ā An Anthology by the Solstice Shadows (Paranormal themed Anthology)
Awethology Dark (featuring Ghosts) ā An Anthology by the #Awethors (Adult stories pertaining to a darker theme)
The December Awethology Dark Volume (featuring Seven Years Bad Luck) ā An Anthology by the #Awethors (Adult stories pertaining to a darker theme, set around December)
****Welcome to the World of Rochford****Ā
Social Media Links:
Rocky Rochfordās website: rockyrochford.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IamRockyRochford/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RockyRochford
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7310280.Rocky_Rochford
Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Rocky-Rochford/e/B00O3AA3KU/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1449272442&sr=8-1
Rochford writes a little something for everyone, so if Mares isnāt your cup of tea, you can guarantee one of his many other works certainly is!
Would you like to win a Ā£10 Amazon giftcard?
All you have to do is share the links below for The Phoenix Project to your facebook wall and tag five friends who might be interested in reading it. (Also tag DM Cain so I can see your post!) Then you will be entered into a draw to win the giftcard. Itās that simple!
Here are the links you can share:
Amazon:
US http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0195A6AYK – http://amzn.to/1NKjbrt
UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0195A6AYK – http://amzn.to/1QAoJW9
Nook:
http://www.nook.com/gb/ebooks/the-phoenix-project-by-dm-cain/2940157645656
Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-phoenix-project-dm-cain/1123117161
I am so delighted to be hosting the wonderful Megan O’Russell today for her release of ‘Nuttycracker Sweet’. Earlier this year I read her magnificent ‘The Tethering’ so I am always keen to read new works by her. I was lucky enough to interview Megan about herself and this new book.
About the Book
Title: Nuttycracker Sweet
Author: Megan OāRussell
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Fiery Seas Publishing, LLC
Release Date: December 8, 2015
Pointe shoes, tutus, and a snowy road trip with the man she hates. What could possibly go wrong?
The plan was simple. Get to Portland, dance The Nutcracker, and donāt murder your dance partner. And most definitely, do not, under any circumstances, fall in love with him.
A snowy road trip strands Elle Grant in a tiny cabin better suited for serial killings than rehearsals for two professional ballet dancers. With no one but the incredibly talented, excruciatingly handsome, and notoriously terrible Zachary Benson and a few taxidermy woodland creatures for company, Elleās Christmas plans are officially ruined. Can she and Zach learn to like each other enough to dance together? And can Elle get home without losing her heart to the Christmas Cavalier?
Interview
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a professional musical theatre performer. I spend most of my time (when Iām not writing) onstage, wearing sequins and fake eyelashes. I spent a lot of time in ballet class when I was little and as a dance major in college, but I never had any desire to be a professional ballerina. Now Iāve finally found a use for all those hours in pointe shoes.
Which books or films inspire your writing?
For Nuttycracker Sweet a lot of the inspiration comes from not only the ballet the Nutcracker, but also the legendary womanizers that filled the ballet world. Mikhail Baryshnikov in the movie White Nights is a great example of how sexy male ballet dancers can be.
Which character from the book would you most like to meet and why?
Ty, Elleās roommate, just because I think the two of us would have a fabulous time together.
If you could be transported into the world of your story, how would you spend the day?
I would spend my day enjoying Christmas. Either holed up next to the fireplace in a log cabin or enjoying the sights of Manhattan. Either way, Iām a sap for a snowy Christmas.
Do you have any quirky writing traditions or habits?
I make my husband read my manuscripts aloud to me before Iāll even consider submitting them. It really does help with catching mistakes. It could just be the actor in me, but hearing the words read aloud helps me to understand a characterās speech pattern and make sure the story flows properly.
Are you a planner or do you tend to ‘wing it’ when you’re writing?
I know where Iām starting from. I know where I want to end up. But I just sort of wing it in the middle and see where the characters and the story want to go. Sometimes you end up with taxidermy. But thatās what makes writing an adventure!
About the Author
Megan is thrilled to be working with Fiery Seas Publishing! Her other published works include Young Adult fantasy novels The Tethering and The Sirenās Realm. Megan is also a featured author in the Athenaās Daughters 2 anthology of women in speculative fiction.
Megan is a professional performer who travels the country living out a thousand lives on stage. Her wonderful husband and frequent dance partner is always by her side.
For more information on Meganās books, you can visit her website atĀ meganorussell.com
Social Media:Ā
It’s taken many an hour slogging away over the manuscript, making tweaks and changes and tearing my hair out, but the new version of The Phoenix Project is finally here!
This brand new edition of my dystopian, psychological thriller The Phoenix Project will be re-released on December 11th. It was originally published in May 2014, and this new Booktrope edition has had a complete editing overhaul plus a stunning new cover design.
The book will be available to buy from a wide range of digital and paperback distributors, including Amazon:
Nook:
http://www.nook.com/gb/ebooks/the-phoenix-project-by-dm-cain/2940157645656
Amazon:
US http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0195A6AYK – http://amzn.to/1NKjbrt
UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0195A6AYK – http://amzn.to/1QAoJW9
Synopsis:
How can you fight to the death, when youāve given up on life?
A thought provoking and compelling dystopian world that will change the way you view justice…
A man fights for lifeāand redemptionāin D. M. Cainās riveting re-released novel, The Phoenix Project.
Britain has descended into chaos as violence and terrorist attacks seethe across this once-peaceful country. Outraged by the steady stream of lawlessness, citizens demand a harsher penal system, and the Phoenix Project is born.
In prisons across the country, inmates fight to the death in a weekly bloodbath while the nation cheers them on.
Raven Kennedy, a prisoner who has never forgiven himself for his unspeakable crime, struggles against his own guilt and self-loathing. But even as the real war wages on within himself, Raven is forced to battle some of the prisonās most ruthless killing machines. Can he survive long enough to unravel the anger and regret that shackle himāand one day find the forgiveness he seeks?
āThe Phoenix Project by D.M. Cain is a superbly written debut, soaked in tension and intrigue,ā Jack Croxall, author of the āTethersā trilogy.
An interesting fact about The Phoenix Project: The horrifying ādark roomā in The Phoenix Project (a pitch-black sensory deprivation cell) was inspired by D.M. Cainās visit to the Terror Haza in Budapestāa museum dedicated to the fascistic and communistic regimes that operated from the building. In the cellar of the Terror Haza are the old cells used to imprison and torture inmates. D.M. crawled inside a very low cell and shut the door, casting herself into total darkness. It was terrifying and claustrophobic, and she only lasted five minutes in there!
Extract from Chapter One:
This is the opening, which throws us straight into Raven preparing for his first fight to the death
Cold, dark terror trickled through Raven Kennedyās veins, freezing him on the spot. There was a thunderous drumbeat echoing around his skull and it took him a while to realise it was the relentless, agitated pounding of his own heart.
As he became more nervous, more afraid of his looming fate, his breath came quickly, sticking in his throat and choking him. A cough threatened to burst forth from his lips, but he held it in, afraid it would bring with it the contents of his stomachāthe bland, tasteless meal he had been given in his cell.
It was the worst possible time to feel weak, but Raven felt like he could hardly lift his arms, his exhaustion was so great. He hadnāt slept a wink last night. How could he with today hovering over him?
The time for his first fight had come around quickly. Heād hardly been given time to think about it at all. Raven looked down at his hands and was not surprised to see they were shaking.
His opponentās name was Wilson. Raven knew nothing else about him. Heād never spoken to him, had never even met him. Had they passed one another in the dining hall and never even looked up? If he had spoken to him would that make what he was about to do any easier?
He heard heavy footsteps in the corridor and his heart jumped into his throat. They were coming for him.
Want to win these AMAZING prizes?Ā SimplyĀ enter our rafflecopter giveaway for multiple chances to win 3 paperbacks and a whole lot of extra goodies!
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d333a7cc5/?
Immersive fantasy fiction 