Dark Faerie Tales is pleased to welcome fantasy author Kevin James Breaux. His debut novel, Soul Born, was released in 2010, and the second installment in the Soul Born series, Blood Divided was recently released. Please join me in welcoming Kevin here today and be sure to check out his wonderful guest post. Haven’t started the series yet? Never fear, you can read the prologue and first chapter from the first book here.
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What’s up with that, Dungeon Master?
Ramblings by Kevin James Breaux
Is it just me, or did people laugh at the mere idea of another epic or high fantasy TV show just ten years ago? Comments like “cheesy” or “nerdy” might’ve been used when discussing the topic. Sure, I enjoyed Kevin Sorbo’s HERCULES, it was great, funny and well—it was cheesy. Oh, damn, I just did it too!
As a child of the 80’s I grew up with fantasy movies like CONAN and EXCALIBUR; real sword and sorcery movies with action and adventure, blood and guts—hell yeah! So what went wrong? The 90’s went wrong, and lets admit it… so did the early 2000s. Well, at least by my best guess. I mean we suffered two DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS movies then, yikes, I hate even typing that. You know, my therapist says I need to repress the memories of those movies or risk damaging my delicate sense of sensibility as a fantasy author. (I tease… I tease…)
But really, it wasn’t until Peter Jackson rocked our worlds with the LORD OF THE RINGS movies that some… not all… opinion shifted. I will be totally honest, I still have a hard time convincing my one friend that anything, show, movie, and even video game that is fantasy related is cool. He automatically gets that “cheesy” fantasy taste in his mouth and asks me if the story will include metrosexual elves… (what’s up with that trend these days anyway? Save it for the Vamps! Meh, a topic for another day, I guess.)
I get it, epic fantasy went from being totally rad to something only geeks enjoyed to… well, now it’s something everyone and their mom enjoys, seemingly thanks to the GAME OF THRONES HBO show. Makes me wonder… What’s that old saying about “fair-weather fans”?
Me, I was a geeky, fantasy fan since the first time I laid eyes on a twenty sided die. Sure, there were times I had to run away from jocks—like I was being chased by a legion of Orcs—so not to get stomped, but then years later those same dudes were playing World of Warcraft with me, and… um… I admit, I might’ve missed a heal or two on them when they were tanking in SSC. Sorry.
So what about the Game of Thrones TV show makes it so acceptable to the non-fantasy loving peeps? Why is it a game changer? My guess is because it’s more about the characters and their development and less about the shiny-shimmery paranormal beasties. Of course, being someone who writes about wicked mages I was like… Dude, where’s my magic? Someone cap a Melf’s Magic Arrow in Petyr Baelish’s punk ass.
My wife, she’s not into fantasy at all, or at least she wasn’t. She sat there next to me as I watched Game of Thrones and she loved it. Next thing I knew the Game of Thrones book was sitting on her night table, taking up nearly half of it, damn that book is huge! Short of reading the Gabaldon books, that was her first real fantasy novel and she enjoyed it. So something out there in the universe has changed. Ten years ago my wife only read Oprah recommended books, now she’s reading epic fantasy.
Is it global warming, Mr. Gore? The end of times, Mr. Camping? Or did Marvel Comics reboot this universe and not tell me?
Guess I will just sit back, relax and wait until season two of Game of Thrones. We shall see…
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About Kevin:
Kevin James Breaux is an award-winning artist and author. He grew up in PA, but moved to OR in 2009. He spent years in art school dreaming of becoming a professional comic book artist so that he could see his creations come to life in pen & ink. It was not until his final year at Temple University that he realized writing could fulfill that dream.
Kevin’s career as a writer began in 2007 when his first short story sold for $50. His first move, after celebrating the sale, was to join the Horror Writers Association (HWA). His debut novel SOUL BORN, an epic fantasy, was published by Dark Quest Books in 2010 and the book won First Place in the Sci-fi & Fantasy category of the P&E Reader’s Poll. Kevin is experienced with on-line social communities and has a growing fan base on Goodreads, Twitter and Facebook. As a skilled graphic artist he has created magazine print ads and YouTube book trailers to support his book. Kevin also maintains two active blogs that contain his interviews, articles and guests posts published on the web.
Kevin enjoys writing e-stories to provide incentives for readers of his works. Lastly, in 2011 he has sold three short stories; two were released in printed anthologies and is now a staff writer with fantasy-faction.com, and contributing writer for Suspense Magazine. Both allow him even more access to readers in his genre.
You can visit Kevin around the web here: Website | Blog | Book Site | Twitter
Want to read more from Kevin James?
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About the Book:
There exists an ancient elven proverb, dating before the time of man. Life and death, like day and night, meet at a point where they blend into one. It is that brief moment when anything is possible.
There was a time when four sparks of life burned brighter than the sun itself. Megan was born with power, Lucien born with station. Autumn was born full of life, while Nathan was entwined with death.
Peace has come and gone… The conflicts of old have returned-rejuvenated and driven. This is the beginning of the end. The children of Karn have come of age, and now they will take part in shaping the fate of Illyia.
Will they join forces, or with blood will they be divided?
Click HERE to read an excerpt
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