Whoops! I missed my personal update last week. Oh, well, it’s going to have to wait a little longer, because today we’re talking FANTASY BOOKS! And I’m super stoked to share new and upcoming books from three of my writer friends who are not only awesome people, but great writers with terrific imaginations.

…Because the bookstores may be closed, but writers will still write and readers will still read and the books must still be published!

Okay, let’s get to it: two cover reveals and an interview with the amazing Joshua Pantalleresco about his book, which is coming out in only ten (make that nine by the time I publish this) days.

Suzy Vadori: Wall of Wishes

Suzy is a book coach, editor, public speaker and a best-selling author of the award-winning young adult series The Fountain.

I bought the first book (The Fountain) for Jabin a couple years ago, and he devoured it. When I asked him for a review comment about it just now, he said “It really pulled me in. Every chapter gave you more questions that you wanted to find answers for, and you got really attached to the main character. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone twelve or older.” (Of note: many adult reviewers enjoy Suzy’s books, too. They’re on my TBR pile. :-D)

The first book uses a magical wishing well to tackle themes of bullying and consequences for a young adult crowd. The second book (The West Woods) also features the fountain to teach a similar lesson of being careful what you wish for. The theme of using magical objects to teach wonderful life lessons to the characters has continued throughout the series, which is probably partly why the first two books in the series have garnered awards.

Suzy just had her cover reveal for the third book of the series, Wall of Wishes, and I’m thrilled to help her get the word out and share this artistic eye candy. I mean, check this out. (She had me with the red.)

Wall of Wishes (The Fountain Series Book 3)

Hidden deep in the woods is a secret fountain that has granted St. Augustus students’ wishes for nearly a century, including the wish responsible for Ava’s very existence. When she learns that the woods will soon be destroyed to make way for a new road, Ava must do whatever it takes to save the fountain, or risk her own life being erased.

New girl Courtney knows more about the school’s magic than she’s letting on and has something to gain from the fountain’s destruction. Joining forces with Courtney seems the only way to stop the road, but Ava and Courtney share a thorny past. Trusting her is impossible, but if she doesn’t, Ava could disappear forever.

The book will be out this summer sometime and Suzy says it will be up for pre-order soon. You can stay on top of that here: https://suzyvadori.wordpress.com/.

Jessica Renwick: The Bow of Anarchy

The third volume in the middle grade Starfell series comes out on May 27.

I have edited this entire series and love them all, but this one was my favourite so far.

While you could start with this one if you really wanted, I’d recommend picking up book one, The Book of Chaos, first. You’ve got plenty of time to read that one and The Guitar of Mayhem before The Bow of Anarchy is released. Did I mention that the first two books in this series have won awards, too?

The Bow of Anarchy (Starfell Book 3), Coming May 27

After a quiet winter, the Lichwood is waking. Murmurs of activity at Endora’s mansion reach Tulip Manor, and Fable and her friends are restless to discover why. After an undead guard attacks the enchanted barrier that encloses the cottage grounds, Fable’s magic spins out of control.

When a letter arrives from the Thistle Plum Inn stating a Folkvar has been sighted in the city of Mistford, the residents of Tulip Manor find themselves thrust into chaos. A mystery involving Thorn’s missing sister, a mystical bow and arrow, kidnapped magical creatures, and a dangerous curse looms over the spring festival—and it’s up to Fable and her friends to solve.

Deep down, Fable knows these secrets are tied to her evil great-grandmother. But if she can’t fight the darkness that grows within her, she won’t be able to save anyone. Not even herself.

Find Jessica’s social media links and newsletter to keep posted about this release on her website here: https://www.jessicarenwickauthor.com/

Or just go pre-order yours now:

Joshua Pantalleresco: Cloud Diver

When I interviewed Joshua last fall, this project was still in the works. Now, Joshua’s very first full-length novel will be coming out in less than two weeks.

He was kind enough to share an ARC copy with me, and I’ve been enjoying it when I can spare some time for fiction (which is kind of rare right now, so it’s no reflection on the book that it’s taking me forever). It’s funny and original with plenty of snark and quirky characters. (But, unlike the first two books in this post, it’s aimed at a more adult crowd.)

Cloud Diver, coming May 16

How's this: Johnny Wheeler was perfectly happy being a diver in Void Life. One fateful day doing his job in cyberspace he ends up finding a secret floor in the tower, and finds a woman with a Gunblade walking towards an ancient storage system known as the cloud. Johnny follows her and gets a file that everyone from zombie mobsters to unicorns that fart rainbows are after. Johnny's only escape from this adventure business is that girl with the Gunblade (who may or may not like him very much).

In preparation for his upcoming release, I asked Joshua a few things about the book. Here’s what he had to say:

This is your first full-length novel release, correct? Please tell us what the book is about.
Cloud Diver is my first full length novel. It's basically Indiana Jones meets The Matrix. Johnny Wheeler is a diver, who basically is a tester for constructed worlds, and one day follows a girl with a Gunblade into the digital cloud we know and love today, and gets a file that everyone from zombie mobsters (brains) to unicorns that fart rainbows are after. His only salvation? The Girl with the Gunblade. And she doesn't like him. Much.

What was the inspiration behind this story?
This question should be how not to do a novel. I was in IFWA [Imaginative Fiction Writers Association] at the time, and they do monthly readings. So I volunteered to do a reading without having written a single word down. Two days later I wrote the first full chapter of the story. It made people laugh, and I knew I had something. The other part of it was that I am fascinated by the idea that in this day and time, everything is recorded. Unlike any other point in history, future generations are going to look at our time and see things completely. How does that impact how we understand the world that came before us? Especially when you consider all the data that's in digital devices like the cloud.

Who is your favourite character and why, or what is your favourite scene and why?
I enjoyed them all for different reasons. Johnny, though, is so fun to write. He's such a coward that it's just fun to get him into strange situations. And I can. Wait until you see the cupcake incident in book two.

Did you have to do any research to write this? If so, what was something interesting you learned that you wanted to include in the book but couldn't? What was something you were able to include in a cool way?
So… yes and yes. My research has been how computer programming and DNA are intertwined, not just in terms of body modification, which is something I really delve into in book two, but also how diseases are evolving. I based the virus in Cloud Diver on the Spanish Flu. I didn't mention it outside of a Twitter feed, so it's never fully mentioned that way, but it's there. I'm researching VR [Virtual Reality] of course, and robotics. Mostly on the nature of intelligence and where that might be in just a few short years. This I didn't really get the chance to talk about in this book, but it's a theme I'm looking at going forward.

Who is this book best for?
Gamers, sci-fi fans, Indiana Jones fans, and just people who like high concept work that's fun. I'd say kids might need to check with their parents on some of themes, but any adult that likes video games and The Matrix or sword art online will dig this.

Do you have any other projects on the horizon right now?
Yes. Alice Zero is coming out July 1st. It's my first epic poem in three years. It's Alice in Wonderland as Greek mythology. Super fun to write.

Sounds fun, right? (Psst… That’s because it is.) Check it out at the link, and show Joshua some pre-order love.

You can also check out this longer article I wrote about Joshua last fall to find out more about his back story and other work: Joshua Pantalleresco: Blessing the Broken Road.

Happy Thursday! Now go read. :-)