Tag fairy tales

Cover reveal, Preorder, and ARCs!: GODFATHER DEATH, M.D.

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Ever since Daniel Grimm can remember, people have whispered that death follows him everywhere. Some even call him The Grimm Reaper. But after the harrowing tragedy that shattered his family, all Daniel wants is peace. Then on the ten-year anniversary of the Grimms’ tragedy, Dr. Miguel Mortiz–Daniel’s estranged godfather–reappears in his life after a long absence. Miguel is one of the few people alive who can bear Daniel’s grief. After all, no one understands pain better than a healer.

Under the cloak of charisma and familial warmth, Miguel seems to have a shadow. Aunt Cass even urges Daniel to stay away from him. But against all warnings, he peels back the layers of grief and mystery until he discovers the dark, unthinkable secret about his godfather. Not only does this unlock the truth about the Grimms’ untimely demise; it changes everything Daniel knows about life, death, fantasy, and reality. He may get everything he ever wanted. But there’s a cost to holding the key, and some secrets should probably stay in the graveyard.

Welcome to the tale of Danny Grimm! Long after I finished his story, this dude and his godfather are still haunting me. They really latched onto my brain, as did Aunt Cass and everyone Daniel crosses paths with in this story.

I’ve been asked for comp titles, and I’ve dreaded this question a little bit. XD I’ll be curious to see what the readers say! For now, just know that it IS a retelling from Grimm’s Fairy Tales, that I watched a lot of Modern Family while writing this, and that I also listened to a lot of sad, dark music. So imagine a sitcom with like, Guillermo Del Toro vibes? Maybe that’s a step in the right direction…

Today I’m so proud to present the front cover, designed with care by the talented Molly Phipps!

The name of the game is Candles. I keep staring at this one and the way the wax melts around the design–almost seems to sculpt the rest of it. That’s important. 🙂

Godfather Death, M.D. is now available for preorder wherever you find your ebooks: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, you name it. It will also be available in paperback and hardcover (a first for me)! This will make it a volume worthy of adding to Miguel’s mysterious library! Amazon is giving me a bit of grief setting up the hardcover, so if that’s the format you’re interested in, I recommend going through Barnes and Noble online for this one. At least for now. 🙂

Finally, if you want to read it before anyone else, and for FREE, please consider signing up for an ARC on Booksprout. If you’re unfamiliar with ARCs, this stands for Advanced Readers Copies, meaning Booksprout sends you a free eBook in exchange for an honest review! Reviews in the first few days of release can really help a book find an audience, and all it costs is the time it will take you to read!

Oh, and you can also add it to your Goodreads list!

This will launch on January 9, 2024!

Let me know what you think! I’ve been dying to hear the reactions to this one!

Introducing GODFATHER DEATH, M.D.

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What if Death wears a mortal body and walks among us?

What if Death is your college professor, the cute barista at your local cafe’, or even a family doctor?

What if Death is your godfather? Would you resent him for everything you’ve lost?

I’m so excited that my serial project, GODFATHER DEATH, M.D. is now a thing in the world! It makes me a little bit nervous because it’s not yet a finished product, or a medium I’ve tried before, but it feels like the right move. It’s organic this way. There’s a a bit of wiggle room to have a conversation with the readers. Ironically, it’s more alive this way. It’s also a bit like a strange TV show… part drama, part sitcom, part quest… and I promise all will be resolved in the end. I have created my map to the ending!

People whisper that death follows Daniel Grimm everywhere. They even call him The Grimm Reaper. Then on the ten-year anniversary of the tragedy that shattered Daniel’s family, Dr. Miguel Mortiz–his estranged godfather–reappears. Miguel is one of the few people alive who can understand Daniel’s grief. After all, no one grasps pain better than a healer. So why does Aunt Cass warn him to stay away from Miguel? He longs to understand, but some secrets are probably better off left in the graveyard.

You can read the first three episodes for free, and then the following episodes will become unlockable every Monday through Kindle Vella’s token system. You can even claim 200 tokens for free if it’s your first Vella story! 200 will buy you roughly 8 chapters, and pretty much the rest of Act I. (Of course, I’m not pulling any punches–I’ll be trying to hook you so you’ll come back for Act II!) The cool thing is that this format makes the story even more accessible to new audiences. When it’s all done, I’ll wait a bit, take it down, and bind it into a paperback. (Maybe even a hardcover, too? Idk… I’m pretty darn proud of this one!) Like I said, you can get the weekly streaming experience, or the binge-it-in-a-day-and-put-it-on-your-shelf experience!

There are a couple of things you can do that will really help me out:

  • Give each chapter a “thumbs up.” This is part of how royalties, “favorites,” and visibility play out on Vella!
  • Hit the “Follow This Story” button.
  • Share the link with someone who might enjoy this!

Reminder: Read with care. Death can be a touchy subject, and this is purely my way of exploring grief, loss, and mortality in a way that feels healthy and meaningful for me. With that said, my beliefs and experiences are my own, and I do not attempt to speak for everyone. I can hope, however, that it might bring someone some solidarity, or maybe even comfort. Danny Grimm, Aunt Cass, Miguel, and The Grimms have shared a LOT with me in the last 7 months, and they continue to do so!

Happy reading!

Jacob

Thoughts on Summer, Perfection, and Stickers

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Gather ’round, friends. It’s June. It’s hot out. Come enjoy the A.C. for a minute, and let’s catch up.

If you know me in my “real life,” outside the pages and the cons and the social media posts, you know what summer means to me. It’s a happy, meaningful, transformative time, and it’s a very busy time! Last year, summer had a rocky start when I went to table at Phoenix Fan Fusion and came back with a positive COVID test. I missed a week of training my staff, leaving them scrambling to execute “Plan B”. I fell deeply behind on a massive to-do list, personally and professionally. Writing didn’t happen at all. The brain fog, the guilt, and the fatigue gnawed at me all summer long while I tried to facilitate a perfect summer in every way.

And I finally learned what I should’ve learned a long time ago: perfect is simply not going to happen. This was a difficult place for me to get to as an “Achiever”/Type-A personality, and I’m not going to pretend I’ve fully let go of perfectionism. But my outlook right now has been kind of liberating. “If I pour 150% into X, I will drain myself. X might fail anyway, and then there will not be enough of myself to show up and revise it. But if I pour 100% into me, X will be as awesome as it can be, and I’ll be a stronger and healthier leader when I do need to revise it.” This is just an epiphany that I wanted to share with you. 🙂

I did make a few sacrifices at the start of this summer, including Fan Fusion. I can’t pretend it didn’t make my heart sore, but it was a great opportunity to practice pouring 100% into my wellness when I couldn’t be everywhere at once. So here are some of the things I’m thinking about this summer:

I’m beginning to release Godfather Death, M.D. on Kindle Vella. This is my first serial, and because it’s not even 100% finished yet, I really have to lean into this “it won’t be perfect” thing. The comfort I take is that it’s still malleable while it’s a serial, and it’s a story that I love deeply. It’s challenged my emotions more than once by now… I cried in a Barnes and Noble writing a particular scene. I cried again writing a graveyard scene, and then I cried again editing both those scenes. Rest assured that every reaction was cathartic and healing. I hope they’ll resonate in beautiful ways whenever you get there. And I thank my friend Avon Van Hassel for her beta reads and work on the Vella cover! (Also shout-out to Silva Curry, who is editing this thing piece by piece and putting the icing on top.)

I made a summer reading list! I know very well that I won’t get through the whole thing, and “getting through it” isn’t the goal. Enjoying it is the goal. I have a growing stack of unread comic books from Heroes and Villains, including a few volumes of Saga, and Superman: Son of Kal-El (who is an LGBTQ+ icon, making it a perfect Pride Month read!) I’m following V.E. Schwab’s read-along of her Darker Shade of Magic series, and I’m excited to continue learning from her prose, her world-building, and her insights. I’m finding that these books are even better the second time around. If I manage to finish re-reading those, I can’t wait to dive into In The Lives of Puppets and Tress of the Emerald Sea. Sometimes on a long day, it’s comforting just to have a book in the backpack or next to the bed, ready to portal me into a new world for just a few minutes.

I also have a watch list… Around this time of year, it’s tradition for me to rewatch 500 Days of Summer, and I think I’ll gather a few other movies worth another go… I am also shamelessly enjoying Perfect Match right now. After watching Love is Blind and The Circle, seeing these reality stars come together is like watching a petty, low-stakes MCU, and I’m fascinated.

OH! I wanted to show you these stickers:

This has been a fun representation of the characters in my head: A badass pirate, a dashing adventurer, a gay pumpkin prince, and Death himself, M.D. I didn’t print very many of these to start, but I will start giving one to anyone who orders a book from me directly, and I will bring them to events as well. I hope my characters can “stick” with you the way they always stick with me!

Ok: Life calls. I’m wishing you all a wonderful Pride Month, and I hope you’ll join me later in June for the Vella launch of Godfather Death, M.D. I can’t wait for y’all to meet Danny Grimm, his coffee shop auntie, and his mysterious godfather!

What are you reading, watching, or doing for your wellness this summer?

Happy Reading,

The Hummingbird v. 2.0: Cover Reveal #3!

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Hey friends!

I’ll cut right to the fun stuff: You’ve already seen the first two covers for the new and improved Carver Trilogy, and all week long I’ve been itching to release the third and final cover! I’m just going to drop it right here for ya:

Here we have a glimpse of Neverland, pirate ships, a dragon, some of the towers from Avoria’s Citadel, and perhaps my favorite element of this cover: We finally have a look at Enzo himself!

The books themselves are in formatting, and once that step is complete, I’ll be working to hard to get these live and ready for your hands. I have a feeling they’re going to look pretty awesome in person, especially when you put them all together!

This week to celebrate the release of all three covers, I’m giving away a $5 Amazon credit to one random winner. Entry is simple:

  1. Follow my Facebook page.
  2. Add ROSES IN THE DRAGON’S DEN, my upcoming February release, to your Goodreads list.
  3. Comment on this blog post and tell me what your favorite fairy tale retelling is, or any fairy tale/myth that you would like to see retold in the future! Or, just tell me what you think of these covers!!

I will choose a winner in a week!

Happy reading!

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The Carver v. 2.0: Cover Reveal #1!

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Good morning, friends!

I know I’ve been promising you all an update on the new branding and re-release of THE CARVER for a couple months now, and I was going to hold off until I closed the sales for the old cover and made my Make A Wish donation, but well, I just couldn’t hold it any longer! How ’bout now?

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Things I love about this cover:

  • The way the New York skyline bleeds into The Woodlands, signifying that we’re in our own backyard and an uncharted one at the same time, that this story spans entire worlds near and far.
  • That tiny silhouette against the Empire State Building.
  • The strange dark blue pattern, signaling that this is not an everyday story and that something dark and epic is about to go down…
  • The new font, dark enough to be mysterious; whimsical enough to say, “But don’t take this too seriously 😉”
  • The everything though.

This was done by the amazing Kim G and is only the first of three! I’ll be revealing one new cover every Tuesday in the month of June, so come back on the 19th for THE UNSEEN!

Still waiting on an official timeline for the re-release, but I am going to make every effort to have this out by September for you to hold in your hands! I promise to keep you posted!

In the meantime, I’m giving you an opportunity to win one of three sets of eight character trading cards for my next book, ROSES IN THE DRAGON’S DEN! I’ll post a new challenge with every reveal, though most of them will involve sharing and following 🙂 This week, all you have to do for a chance to win is:

  1. Be following me on Facebook and/or Instagram!
  2. Comment on the cover reveal post on Facebook or Instagram!
  3. Share the cover on your own Facebook or Instagram, and
  4. Tag me in your post!

Pretty easy, right? Every week, in June, one person will win a set of trading cards, which contain a clue about one surviving character from THE CARVER TRILOGY who will make an appearance in ROSES. Yes, these books share a universe! Here’s one of the new characters!

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Carlos “Charlie” Rosas is one of the main protagonists in ROSES IN THE DRAGON’S DEN. He’s twelve years old, lives in Tucson, AZ, and might have been having a much better summer if he weren’t stuck having to rescue his Uncle Diego from a dangerous fire-breathing monster. It’s safe to say his summer is anything but boring, though. Right?

What do you all think of the new cover, and of this new character reveal? Feel free to sound off in the comments! Happy Reading!

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The Carver’s Last Hurrah!

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Howdy chums!

I hope everybody had a nice weekend and had the opportunity to do something nice on Memorial Day. Shout-out to our heroes and veterans out there! We thank you for your service!

I have so much I want to tell you today, especially about Phoenix Comic Fest! If I get into a full recap, I’ll be sitting here writing for days and you’ll likely get super bored, so here’s the quick version:

  1. I sold a lot of books and ate a lot of Mexican food, oh and a little bit of Thai cuisine, too. Katie Salidas and Jenna Johnson are the most excellent con crew I can think of off the top of my head!
  2. Michael Rooker walked into our booth just because he can do that and he’s awesome. It happened so fast that I didn’t get a picture with him, although I DID offer him a slice of pizza . . .
  3. Dr. Strange, Star-Lord, and Bob Ross Deadpool seem to be the most popular cosplay right now, finally edging out Ledger Joker, Leto Joker, and Jon Snow. But only by a little! Although, I have to say I think this Hogwarts crew was my personal favorite . . . Image may contain: 6 people, people smiling, people standing

And with the end of Comic Fest, it’s also the end of a wonderful era: The original print run for The Carver is at an end. I am now actively phasing out the mirror covers, and I recently got my first preview of the new look. I promise you it’s phenomenal–it’s very different and very new, while also holding true to the thematic mood and overall feel of the book. A VERY worthy and replacement for the original branding I loved so much!

For now though, I need to phase out the rest of my stock and get the original books into good hands: yours! As a last hurrah for the stock, I am offering signed and personalized copies, and even some annotated copies for readers who want a glimpse into my thought process and some additional commentary. These will make great gifts and summer reading, and for every order placed on or before June 15, I am pledging to donate half the proceeds (after the cost of shipping) to Make A Wish Arizona. So, every order supports an indie writer, a child who could use a wish right now, and gives you a fun beach read for the summer. It’s like having a triple chocolate cake all to yourself, with none of the guilt and all of the yum!

You can order HERE while supplies last. Orders are first-come-first-served, and I should tell you that at the time I am writing this, there are only three copies of The Hummingbird left! So if you’re looking for a full set or the finale on its own, order fast! I’ll be following up with PayPal invoices a day or two later 🙂

Lastly, my newsletter subscribers will be the first to see the new cover VERY SOON, so if you’re not on the official newsletter (it’s different from this blog and just a little more exclusive!), you can subscribe here!

Happy Reading!

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Of Finales and Finish Lines (The Hummingbird Release!)

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So, we’ve arrived! I have some great giveaway stuff and info below, but first I need to be a sap for a few paragraphs. It is February 20, 2018, the day THE HUMMINGBIRD flies off into the world and the ORDER OF THE BELL trilogy comes to its close. As Marie Lu said at the end of CHAMPION, the end of the road is a strange and wistful place. It’s bittersweet. Today feels a lot like watching a friend or sibling drive off to college. Well. Kinda. It’s hard to describe. Sometimes even authors can’t quite find the right words.

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Just as Aladdin had three wishes and Goldilocks sampled three bowls of porridge, it took three challenging and wonderful years to write three books about three “ordinary” teenagers who discovered that magic is everywhere, especially deep within. And that story is now complete with a start, a finish, and hopefully a wildly fun ride in between! It’s not a perfect set, and I’ve learned a lot of lessons along the way, but it is 100% true to my vision, and I’ve never been prouder to put my name on something. Oh and Enzo, if you’re reading this:

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And I couldn’t have done any of this without my amazing readers and the best publishers/editors/cover designers/beta readers/bloggers/social media followers/family/friends I could have asked for! I hope THE HUMMINGBIRD is the finale you hoped for and deserved, and I hope THE ORDER OF THE BELL has given you even just a fraction of the escape, the hope, the adventure, and the light you’re looking for today–ESPECIALLY today.

Oh and don’t worry. This isn’t really the end of the path. It’s the crossroads. My fingers and those gears in my brain are still moving, so keep an eye out! I have so many more stories to tell you–some from places very close to the bell tower and some much farther away than that second star to the right–and I hope you’ll continue to explore with me.

Wishing you a happy Tuesday and a safe trip back to Florindale,

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THE HUMMINGBIRD (THE ORDER OF THE BELL #3)

In the aftermath of the great battle that left Wonderland in ruins, Crescenzo DiLegno and his two best friends have reunited with their families in Florindale, but the war wages on in every kingdom. The Order of the Bell is scattered, presumably left to the mercy of Queen Avoria, whose grip on the New World grows tighter every day. Cities have already fallen, the shadows have spread, and a fortress of nightmares has appeared in the heart of New York City.

Determined to take back his home and restore order to the worlds, Crescenzo must rally all the people he’s met from his adventures, from the troubled prince to the rebellious Lost Boys, and storm Avoria’s castle of illusion. The Carver’s war against the wicked Ivory Queen brews to an explosive finale, but dark secrets about her true nature have yet to emerge, and not everybody will be prepared to survive them.

ABOUT THE ORDER OF THE BELL SERIES

In this twisted modern fairytale, the lives of three teenagers, Crescenzo, Rosana, and Zack, collide as they contend with the disappearance of their families and learn a secret that uproots their lives: They are actually the children of Pinocchio, Alice, and Peter Pan, and there are dark forces in the fairytale world that want their parents back. With only a handful of handcrafted wooden figurines to light the way, Crescenzo and his friends set off on an epic quest to rescue their families, making unlikely friends–and relentless enemies–out of the storybook legends they thought they knew. But with the growing threat of the nightmarish Queen Avoria looming over his head, Crescenzo won’t just need a few loyal allies to bring his family back to the world he knows: He’ll need a whole army to save all three.

THE CARVER (Book 1) | IVORY QUEEN (Interquel/Novella) | THE UNSEEN (Book 2)

 

 

 

 

 

The Carver is currently on sale for $0.99 on Amazon! Witness the adventure from the very beginning, and own the complete series for less than $5!

GIVEAWAY

To celebrate his third release and the “rule of three” in fairy tales, Jacob is giving away three of his favorite paperbacks for YA adventure lovers: STARDUST by Neil Gaiman, THE DARKEST MINDS by Alexandra Bracken, and AN EMBER IN THE ASHES by Sabaa Tahir. You can earn up to three entries as follows:

  1. Follow @jacob_devlin on Instagram and comment on the giveaway post, tagging a friend who loves to read as much as you do!
  2. Subscribe to Jacob’s newsletter and respond to the welcome email with the name of your favorite fairytale character.
  3. Follow @jacob_devlin on Twitter and retweet the giveaway post (pinned to the top of the page!)

Open internationally. Each entry gets your name/handle written on an index card and entered in a hat, and on 2/28, Jacob will draw one card at random to win the paperbacks along with some special swag items.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jacob Devlin is the author of The Carver, which recently won a LitPick Top Choice Award, and its sequels, The Unseen and The Hummingbird. When not reading or writing, Jacob loves practicing his Italian, watching stand-up comedy, spoiling his niece, and geeking out at comic book conventions. He does most of these things in southern Arizona.

Jacob’s Website | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Amazon

Interview with the Flying Man

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Dear Friends,

I’ve been keeping tabs on Florindale for a little over three years now, and I can tell you that the past few weeks have been the most distressing and busy as I watch the Order of the Bell train day-in and day-out for the war against Avoria. It almost doesn’t look healthy, the way they’re all exerting themselves.

Good news: I managed to talk Violet into letting everybody stop training for one night only, because it’s a special occasion in our world. I explained things a little differently, but here’s how Violet seemed to understand Superbowl Sunday: Tonight, families and friends gather in front of their TV and eat snacks while they watch two opposing kingdoms fight over a ball and an overlord narrates for the spectators. In between, spokesmen advertise more snacks, and the High King of Pop, the uber-charismatic Lord Timberlake, will perform hymns and New World anthems.

So yeah, the people of Florindale are learning an American tradition tonight, which is very exciting for New World natives like Pino and Pietro, who grew up learning all about the Superbowl. As fate would have it, Pietro Volo–Peter Pan himself–came to my house to relive this tradition, and I decided to interview him during some of the less fun commercials. Here’s our transcript:

Pietro: Hey so who’s playing again? Did Ravenclaw make it this year?

Jacob: Sadly no . . . you have the choice of rooting for the Eagles, the Patriots, or Justin Timberlake.

Pietro: Who are those first two? Let me look at the logos real quick. Pass me the onion dip?

Jacob: The Eagles are supposed to be the underdog, as I understand it. We’re really all here for JT.

Pietro: That’s the guy from Backstreet Boys, right? I kinda miss them.

Jacob: We might need to catch you up on New World pop culture. So how are you feeling about the war against the Ivory Queen? Are you ready?

Pietro: I’m tired. Violet’s relentless. But I’m excited to change roles soon. Tomorrow, she’s sending me back to Neverland for a recruitment trip. I get to see my old friends, Nibs, Curly, the boys I used to hang out with on the island before I became a New World man. I hope they’re all still there. We need ’em. We need as many people as we can get in this war.

Jacob: Neverland . . . wow. I’m sure it’s been a long time. You must be really excited to revisit a place you used to call home.

Pietro: Of course, Jay! I’ve been dreaming of the island for years. But ever since Avoria showed up again, these places don’t quite look right. Weird things are happening in New York, Enzo tells me Wonderland was a nightmare, and there are shadows all over Florindale Square. *cracks open a soda and thinks for a minute.* I hope with all my being that Neverland is the way I left it. That’s the whole point of Neverland–it’s not supposed to change.

Jacob: You know, I left Tucson for a while too. When I came back, a lot of things were different. I really hoped they wouldn’t be, but a lot of things don’t stay the same. Look at you! You broke away from Neverland and became a grown man with a family. Remember how badly you didn’t want that for most of your life? Look at JT on the screen right now! He’s changed a lot too since the NSYNC days.

Pietro: That’s different though. JT isn’t about to go fight an evil queen.

Jacob: Meh. I’ll give you that. But it’ll all work out! At least you’ll always have those memories of Neverland, right? And hopefully many still to come of your time in the New World. We’re rooting for you all!

Pietro: Thanks, Jay–HEY! Is that me in that commercial right there?

Jacob: No, that is Chris Pratt. You need to watch Jurassic World soon.

Pietro: Are there dragons?

Jacob: Never mind.

On a side note, watch for a special release day giveaway coming very soon! Are you following me on Instagram or Twitter? More details coming in a couple days!

Wishing you all the best until then!

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Interview with the Future Queen

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Dear Friends,

January is zooming by like a plane, or better yet, a hummingbird *wink wink*. That means in just a couple of weeks, I will be able to present the final chapter of the ORDER OF THE BELL to you. I’m psyched, I’m bummed, I’m a tiny bit nervous, I’m proud, and I’m everything in between. So just imagine how Enzo and his friends must be feeling! I don’t have to fight the Ivory Queen and save the world (lucky for you all)–but they do 😉 They don’t have a choice.

I want to thank the one and only Snow White for sitting down with me earlier today and taking some time out of her ludicrous schedule. She’s a wonderful human being, and I wish we could have chatted about happier things. Anyway, here’s the transcript of my interview with her:

Jacob: Thanks so much for coming to visit me, Your Majesty. I know the Order is keeping you crazy busy right now.

Snow: Mr. Devlin, how long have we known each other now? Please don’t be so formal with me. It’s just Snow. And the pleasure is mine. You’re giving me a much needed break from the daily trials.

Jacob: Trials?

Snow: There’s no way for Avoria to hear what we’re discussing today, right? It’s very risky to discuss the Order’s plans in the open like this. We have to stay one step ahead of the Ivory Queen at all times, and if she finds out . . . *begins wringing her hands and staring out the window*

Jacob: I promise our conversation is safe. Nobody will know a thing except for my very loyal blog reader, who would never mention a thing to Avoria. They hate her too, you know.

Snow: *sighs* Violet and Hua Mulan have us training day in and day out with very little rest. It’s exhausting. Not everybody has the exact same training, of course, but everybody is required to run obstacle courses and a choice of weapon: blades, staves, or projectiles. I work with the arrows and crossbows. I’m much more effective from a distance.

Jacob: You are fierce. We’ve seen the way you handle that crossbow.

Snow: *looks down and fidgets with a loose string in her sleeve* You mean with Hansel? I feel I’ve been too harsh on him. He’s trying to atone for his errors. He truly is. I really want to see him happy, I just . . . I worry that time is running out for us, and it’s hard not to apportion some of the blame to him.

Jacob: I’m glad you’re taking those steps to start forgiving him. This can’t be an easy time for any of you. I did want to ask you something, and stop me if it gets too sensitive: How is Liam doing? I would’ve thought he would come with you today.

Snow: *silence*

Jacob: I’m so sorry, we can always–

Snow: No, no, you’re fine. You deserve to know. Liam is . . . very broken right now. Haunted, even. He’s not the man he was when I met him. At least, not on the surface. It’s been hard for me, and for everybody else who looks up to him. He doesn’t come out of the house, he doesn’t train, he barely leaves his bed. It feels like we’re always training by moonlight now. Without him, it’s like there’s no sun, and I’d give just about anything to see that sun come back.

Jacob: You two have been through so much since Avoria came back. You lose each other, you find each other again, you love bits and pieces of yourself, and you find yourselves again. If anybody is going to make out it out of this war, it’s you two. I have hope!

Snow: You’re too kind. Violet said something similar a few days ago. She had this crazy idea that it’s time to make us King and Queen of Florindale. For hope, I suppose. If only Liam would get out of bed!

Jacob: King Liam and Queen Snow? That’s awesome! I’ve been wondering when that would happen . . . as if you don’t have enough on your plate, though. Do you feel ready?

Snow: As ready as I’ll ever be. I have a terrible feeling about the coronation, but you know Violet. Once she’s made up her mind, there’s no stopping her. One way or another, they’re going to crown us soon. I can think of about seven dozen people more deserving than I, but I’ll accept if it will bring people hope.

Jacob: And that’s exactly why it should be you . . . the fairest in the land! I hope the event goes well. Here’s hoping for a new age, free from Avoria and all that darkness she brought with her.

Snow: Thank you, Mr. Devlin. May the light be with you!

THE HUMMINGBIRD releases February 20, 2018 and the eBook is currently available for pre-order!

The Hummingbird EBook

Interview at Clocher de Pierre

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Hello from the Old World!

I’m sitting at the top of Clocher de Pierre, the gathering place of the Order of the Bell. It rained over night, so today it’s a nice brisk typical fall day out, and I am joined by some of your favorite characters from THE CARVER!

Madame Esme, Pietro Volo, Hansel, Enzo DiLegno, and Rosana Trujillo are here to celebrate this week’s Book Blitz and tell you a little bit about how their lives have changed since their most recent adventure entered print. It’s nice to put my interviewer hat on again! Let’s check in with these goofs and find out what they’ve been up to over the past two months.

Jacob: Hello everyone!

All: *a jumbled mess of “hello”s, “good day”s, and other salutations*

Jacob: It’s good to see you all sitting together! I see you all pretty much every day and put you through a lot of turmoil, but it’s pretty rare that all five of you sit in the same room. Has this ever happened?

Madame Esme: It has not yet come to pass in this reality, but it is foretold that all paths will converge on a day yet to arrive.

Pietro: So this is Madame Esme, huh? You really are as strange as they say…

Madame Esme: Madame Esme thanks you.

Jacob: Oh wow, this is your first time meeting? I’m sure the rest of you need no introduction. Hansel, how are you?

Hansel: Life is sweet as candy, Lore Master! It’s been a whirlwind, to say the least.

Jacob: Really? In what way? What’s been new for you?

Hansel: Oh, you know, before THE CARVER, I was a simple man who hardly existed outside of a brief fairy tale meant for younglings. Now, I walk down the street, and people ask if they can do selflings with me!

Jacob: Selflings? I’m a little lost, is this a Florindale thing that I haven’t written about yet? Can one of you enlighten me?

Esme: Madame Esme knows these too! People approach her with their smart phones–

Hansel: And they freak out, right? “Hey, you’re the bad guy from that book! Let us have a selfling!”

Enzo and Rosana: *together* Oh, selfie! Jinx!

Jacob: Ah, I get you now! So you’re experiencing a bit of star power, huh? That’s awesome!

Hansel: Quite. Until a fair lady sees me on the street, grabs her child, and quickly runs the other way. I hear what they whisper about me. “No, no, child, that’s the bad man!” Only a small handful of people run away. The rest do selflings and seem to be able to separate myth from reality: Hansel in the book world, and real Hansel!

Jacob: Well, it’s really interesting to hear how you’re handling your role as a fictional villain, and how people are responding to that. Pietro, what’s your experience been like?

Pietro: I feel like a movie star, man! Everywhere I go, people are like “OMG IT’S PETER PAN!” I don’t know how Violet could stand it, honestly. I’ve recently started wearing a big fake beard, a baseball cap, a giant hoodie, and aviators when I go out because the paparazzis and the mamarazzis are everywhere.

Enzo: *grinning* Don’t lie, Pietro. You like the attention.

Pietro: *shrugs* Okay, I love the attention. But not at the grocery store! That gets old real fast, because now everyone cares what I’m having for dinner, and I have to go through self check-out because the check-out guy is always commenting like, “Hmmm, Peter Pan likes extra crunchy Skippy peanut butter… why not buy the brand with your name on it?” Have you seen the Peter Pan on Peter Pan peanut butter? He looks like a freaking Christmas elf! That’s why I’m a Skippy guy. Other than that, yeah, life is super chill. I owe ya one, Jay.

Jacob: Shucks, man. Let’s talk to our teenage heroine! How are you, Rosana?

Rosana: I’m well! And can I just say that I love the cover for The Unseen? The world is gonna love it.

Jacob: Thanks! I think you’re right. We still have a long time before we can show it off, but it’ll be worth the wait. Do you wanna tell the world what it’s been like working on the sequel?

Rosana: In a word? Intense. Take all the action and adventure and the dark side of THE CARVER and double it. I’ve never felt such physical or emotional exhaustion before. You’re kind of a relentless author.

Jacob: Ha! I’ll take that as a compliment. If I’m not pushing you to your limits, I’m not doing my job.

Rosana: But it’s paying off, you know. At least, I think so. I really feel like I’m growing in a lot of different ways because of this project.

Jacob: You and I both, my friend. So, now that I have you here, there’s something everyone’s dying to know. It’s about you and our hero sitting next to you…

*Rosana and Enzo share a look*

Jacob: I’ll be blunt: are you two a thing?

 

Pietro: *leans forward and winks at Enzo, tilting his head toward Rosana*

Enzo: Sorry to disappoint, but we’re not a “thing.” How many successful relationships do you see in THE CARVER?

Jacob: Quite a few, actually. Your parents, Zack’s parents, Snow White and Prince Liam…

Enzo: Okay, let me use Batman as an example. Is Batman in a successful relationship? Or Captain America? Wolverine? We’re all trying to save the New World now. It doesn’t make sense to be in a relationship right now. All the best superheroes are single.

Rosana: Right.

Jacob: Okay, I’ll respect that answer. But this series has to come to an end at some point. Either a bunch of you will die and Queen Avoria will win, or, after a great and terrible struggle, some of you may defeat Queen Avoria and finish the series with your lives. What then? Should readers look forward to the possibility of “Rosenzo?” or “Enzana?”

Rosana: I guess readers will have to read on.

Esme: *singsong voice* I knowwwww!

Jacob: Ha! Okay, one final question for all five of you. In one word, tell me what you look forward to the most about your future in these books. Or what you hope for.

Esme: Mystery.

Pietro: Pizza.

Hansel: Possible redemption? Sorry, that’s two words.

Enzo: Home.

Rosana: Wonderland.

Jacob: Killer answers! Thank you all for–

Rosana: Wait! You have to tell us your one word now.

Jacob: Oh! Ummm… Chaos. I love complicating your lives.

There is a big sale for THE CARVER this week! Be sure to check out Amazon’s deals on paperbacks, Kindle, and audio books. Also, be on the lookout for some fun interviews and blog posts, and be sure to check out Case Maynard’s big release through Blaze this week, THE SURRENDERED!