Eric Reinhold - the questions

When did you first envision the world of Aeliana?
I first envisioned Aeliana in 1999. I grew up on fantasy novels like C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, Science Fiction, and was an avid comic book collector. All of these resources merged in helping me create my own fantasy world.

Why did you decide to use Mount Dora, FL as the setting for your story?
At first I was going to make up a fictional town in the mountains of Georgia or North Carolina and then I visited Mount Dora, which is only 24 miles from my house. It was perfect! As I describe in the novel, Mount Dora has so much character, with Lake Dora, parks, quaint shops, interesting alleyways, an old fashioned railroad and so much more. I also remember reading a novel when I was growing up in Miami which used Miami as the setting. It was so interesting to read a fictional story with real locations I had been to that I wanted my readers to be able to enjoy the same experience.

You said it took seven years from when you had the idea of this story to the time it became a hardcover book; why so long?
I first began outlining my story in 2000 and had actually outlined all twenty chapters and written ten chapters when I unexpectedly had to have open-heart surgery for a congenital birth defect that I was unaware of. This setback during the period of the 9-11 crisis and subsequently starting my own business, resulted in my putting my project on the shelf for five years, until I picked it up in 2007…

How did your publishing contract come about?
The Lord’s timing is amazing to reflect upon. I believe I was ahead of my time in
2000 when I first shopped my story idea around to Christian publishers. I believe I
was the first to do so following the Harry Potter craze and Christian publishers
weren’t ready for the concept. While I was building my financial planning practice
from 2002-2006 I retained some amazing clients, one of which was Steve Strang,
the President of Strang Communications, which the Creation House line falls under.

How old are your children now? Do you still tell them stories?
My children are 9, 12, and 15. The two younger ones are homeschooled and our oldest just started at a private Christian High School. The stories I used to tell the girls (12, 15) each night before I put them to bed were part of my inspiration for writing and alas they have moved on from dad’s stories, but still devour fantasy novels on a regular basis. I have started a new storyline for my son to try out some ideas for book two.

You have an interesting background for an author, what is your desire in writing your novels?
I took a few creative writing classes in high school and of course at an engineering school like the Naval Academy, I had no writing courses. I was primarily self taught from books and took to heart the “show it don’t tell it” advice. I strongly believe that the people you know, the books you read, and the places you go have a significant influence on your life and have been a great impact on my writing.

You are President of a wealth management firm. Tell us a little about Academy Wealth. Who is it for and what services are provided?
The biblical principles on money are time-tested and have an influence on the advice I provide my clients in the areas of estate, tax, investment, insurance, and business planning. I have a unique investing process that is fee-based using exchange traded funds which is my primary service to clients – along with charitable planning strategies.

How did you come to know Jesus Christ?
I grew up in a Christian home and became a believer at the age of
eight. I was a leader in my high school youth group at Old Cutler
Presbyterian Church in Miami, FL and graduated from Westminster
Christian High School. My wife and three children have attended
First Baptist Sweetwater Church for the past thirteen years, where I
am a Deacon, Adult Sunday School teacher, work with the High
School Youth Group, and am on several committees.

The Annals of Aeliana is set to be a trilogy. How are you coming on book two?
The series is based upon Ephesians 6 and the putting on the armor of God. Originally I was planning to make the series seven books based upon each piece of armor… and I still may; however the publisher suggested I start out as a trilogy. “You can always have a second trilogy.” I have outlined book two, “Ryann Watters and the Shield of Faith” and plan to have it completed in 2008 for release in 2009.

Christopher Hopper Gallery

Thanks to Amanda Davis for the pictures of the MOtiv8 tour.

This first picture in the Christopher Hopper Gallery is not Christopher, but Amanda.

This is a trick. This is not Christopher Hopper:

This also is not Christopher Hopper. This is Jenny Hopper:

This is a Canadian lady who is not related but very nice.

This is Jenny Hopper, Christopher's wife.

Pictures of her often have a camera hiding her face

as she was the official videotographer of the trip.

Christopher Hopper - Crazy White Bald Dude

Hey! He's the one who claims that title. It is not PC in my book to point out his race, his lack of hair, or his inclination toward zaniness. But Christopher is all of those things. He is a youth pastor in New York. Not New York City. His neighbors are cows, not suits (meaning big city, corporate types, riding the subway, hailing taxis, and rushing through life.) 

However, I have to admit that Christopher is often in the rush mode. God has gifted him in many areas, and Christopher is a good stewart of his talents. He's a husband, father, musician, author, and preacher. He is one of the original Fantasy Fiction Tour members. His energy powered the tour at times the rest of us were beginning to drag. 

Christopher and his lovely wife, Jennifer, were responsible for the daily broadcasts of our tour down the West Coast.

Meet Bryan Davis

Bryan Davis is the author of the best-selling Dragons in Our Midst and Oracles of Fire series, contemporary/fantasy blends for young people. His book, Eye of the Oracle, hit number one on the January 2007, Young Adult CBA best-seller list.
His new series from Zondervan, Echoes from the Edge, debuted in May of 2008 with Beyond the Reflection’s Edge, and the second book in the series, Eternity’s Edge, came out in October.
Bryan is also the author of several other works including The Image of a Father (AMG) and Spit and Polish for Husbands (AMG), and four books in the Arch Books series: The Story of Jesus’ Baptism and Temptation, The Day Jesus Died, The Story of the Empty Tomb (over 100,000 sold), and Jacob’s Dream. Bryan lives in Western Tennessee with his wife, Susie, and their children. Bryan and Susie have homeschooled their four girls and three boys.
Bryan was born in 1958 and grew up in the eastern U.S. From the time he taught himself how to read before school age, through his seminary years and beyond, he has demonstrated a passion for the written word, reading and writing in many disciplines and genres, including theology, fiction, devotionals, poetry, and humor.
Bryan is a graduate of the University of Florida (B.S. in Industrial Engineering). In high school, he was valedictorian of his class and won academic awards in English, Algebra, Advanced Math, and Science. He was also a member of the National Honor Society and voted Most Likely to Succeed.
He continues to further his writing education by attending relevant writing conferences and conventions. Although he is now a full-time writer, Bryan was a computer professional for over 20 years.

Wayne Thomas Batson

I spent 9 days with Mr. Batson and 6 other fantasy authors. I came away impressed by all of them. The trip was grueling, but during times of stress, every one of them were cool, professional, and the essence of what you want your Christian companions to be. I want you to get to know these people better, since I had the privilege of getting to know them. So for the next few weeks I will be blogging about these authors who are now like brothers and sister to me.

Here's a picture of Mr. Batson, then. You can see he's a studious thinker, but who would have thought that he had The Door Within within.

Here's Wayne Thomas Batson now. I think the loss of tie and suit says it all. Wayne Thomas Batson is cool.

Now for some official data on the fantasy author of these fantastic books:

Wayne Thomas Batson is the author of the bestselling Door Within Trilogy and the Isle of Swords, pirate series. Mr. Batson writes adventures set in imaginative locales because he believes that on a deep level, we all dream of doing something that matters and that we all long for another world.
He was born in Seabrook, MD in 1968. During the early years he tortured his older brothers and sisters, doing those things that only younger siblings can do to get on your nerves. He attended Gabriel DuVal Senior High School and wrote this for his Yearbook Senior Goals: To become a professional writer or artist. During the high school and early college years, he played lead guitar for a rock band called "Contagious." They were catchy, but apparently not enough to get a record deal.
Having completed the rigorous Holmes English Literature Curriculum, he graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1991. In 1996, he received his first graduate degree in Counseling. He has continued his studies with 36 credit hours of graduate-level Reading courses.
Wayne Thomas Batson has spent the last sixteen years teaching Reading and English to middle schools students. He pioneered the active instruction of Strategic Reading in Anne Arundel County and has written Reading and English Curricula for three public school systems in Maryland. Most recently, he helped develop the Challenge Reading Curriculum for advanced readers in Howard County, Maryland. Mr. Batson tailors his stories to meet the needs of the young people he cares so deeply about.
The Door Within Trilogy books earned favorable reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, School Library Journal, VOYA, and popular author/speaker Josh McDowell. The Final Storm is the last book of an epic fantasy trilogy for readers 10 thru adult.
Wayne Thomas Batson gives thanks to God for the abundant life he’s been given.
When last seen, he was tromping around the Blackwood Forest of Yewland with his beautiful wife and four adventurous children. If you’d like to know more about Mr. Batson and his books visit: http://www.thedoorwithin.com/ or http://www.enterthedoorwithin.blogspot.com/.

Tomorrow, we will look further into the life and times of Wayne Thomas Batson.

A Hero, or two, arrive on the Fantasy Fiction Scene

I get pretty aggravated because I have some really talented writer friends who have finished some awesome manuscripts, but they can't sell them. The CBA market is too tight, too uptight, and to poor to take chances. But that means nobody gets to read these fantastic tales but a few reader friends of the aspiring author. Somone else got ticked off about this sad situation and he was in the position to do something about it. So a new publisher, unconventional and sorely needed, is about to spring on the scene. I've seen the prototype book and it is every bit as good as those the standard publishing houses put out. So if you are interested in "speculative fiction," read on:
Marcher Lord Press is an indie publishing company dedicated to Christian speculative fiction: fantasy, SF, time travel, and the rest. Marcher Lord Press is the brainchild of CBA industry veteran Jeff Gerke, founder of http://www.wherethemapends.com/. Gerke is working to make Marcher Lord Press the premier publishing of Christian speculative fiction from Day 1. And Day 1 is this week! Marcher Lord Press is launching with three novels:

Summa Elvetica by Theodore Beale is a philosophical fantasy about what would happen if something very much like the Roman Catholic Church existed in a fantasy world and decided to tackle the question of whether or not Elves have souls.
The Personifid Invasion by R. E. Bartlett is action SF on a ruined Earth in which "interdimensional beings" discover they can take over the artificial bodies into which humans have transferred their consciousnesses.
Hero, Second Class by Mitchell Bonds is an epic comic fantasy about a young man who yearns to be a hero in a world in which Heroes have monthly dues and Villains are allowed only one eclipse per fiscal quarter.

Marcher Lord Press officially opens for business on October 1. They're holding a massive prize giveaway on that day--so be sure to get over to http://www.marcherlordpress.com/ before then to register to win. The grand prize is a trip for two to the 2009 Comic-CON convention in San Diego. Launch Day events also include free bonus books to be given away when you purchase one or more Marcher Lord Press novels on October 1.

Here's a little blurb about one of the first three books: Hero, Second Class is a delightful roast of all the fantasy fiction elements we hold dear. It is said that only someone who loves something can truly lampoon it. So it is in this case. Bonds' novel is a riot.
Quest with Cyrus, our young protagonist who aspires to be a Hero. But Heroes have a guild, you see, and lots of rules. One has to pay one's dues, apprentice to a Hero in good standing, and comport oneself as befits a member of the Heroes Guild.
Cyrus is fortunate to be serving his apprenticeship during a True Crisis, during which an Arch Villain is on the loose. An ambitious hero-in-training could make quite a name for himself during such times.
Cyrus's progress toward achieving his next level in the Heroes Guild is complicated by a wise-cracking dragon, a self-narrating knight, a droll zombie, and an attractive young woman who also happens to kind of be a cat.
On top of it all, Cyrus is discovering he has strange, non-standard-issue magical powers that definitely don't fit into his plans. And the Arch Villain (along with sundry Villains Guild members) has suddenly taken an intense personal interest in our plucky young protagonist.
If Cyrus isn't careful, he's not going to live long enough to become a Hero of any class.
Hero, Second Class, Mitchell Bonds, Marcher Lord Press, October 2008, 620 pages, $14.99

Ryan Watters Offer

NEW RYANN WATTERS BOOK VIDEO UP – WATCH IT, PASS IT ALONG, GET A FREE BOOKMARKER!

We had lots of fun filming this book trailer video of Ryann Watters and the King’s Sword. Check it out at either my blog: http://ryannwatters.blogspot.com/ Or the Fantasy Fiction Tour Website: http://www.fantasyfictiontour.com/?page_id=44 along with the other author Book Videos.

PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO AS MANY FRIENDS AS YOU CAN!

If you forward this to 10 people then send me your address and I’ll mail you a free bookmarker of the new book! They just came in. No proof needed… this is the honor system!
Send your information to Mr. Reinhold to get the bookmark. His e-mail address is eric@ryannwatters.com

And the last winner is . . .

Alassiel. She guessed a crown and that is correct!

You know the drill, Alassiel. I do not keep your addresses so you need to send it again plus the color you want to donitakpaul@msn.com.

Shopping Spree Contest

One of our sponsors for the Motiv8 Fantasy Fiction Tour is Real Armor of God. This company provided each of us with a sword and its sheath. But these generous people also gave each of us a shopping spree. So for this contest, I want you to guess what I bought from the website. I spent just under $100. I purchased four items, but I'm going to ask you to guess three.

Click on the Real Armor of God logo under Tour Sponsors to go to their sight.

I should give you some hints. I already have a cape, so I didn't buy one. The sword comes with the sheath and the little thing called a frog that attaches it to the belt. And I didn't buy anything for somebody else.

Okay? Put your guesses in the comments. The prize, of course, is a beaded dragon bookmark.

Read the comments because I'm giving clues there as well.

Young Christopher or Grandma Paul?

Making it harder. The four hints below apply to me, Donita K. Paul, or Christopher Hopper. Sort them three and two and put your guess in the comments box. Same prize: the handmade beaded dragon bookmark.

1. I used to bleach my hair platinum blonde.
2. I dyed my hair black in college and was mistaken for the offspring of a drug cartel from Guatemala.
3. I almost failed French class.
4. I failed the Roschach Ink Blot test in college.
5. My father was a university professor.

Contest Winner!

The answer is Jonathan Rogers. And we have three who correctly answered. Alassiel has already won a beaded bookmark, but I suppose we could send her another. Lion-hearted and Cylos Eli and Alassiel, send me your snail mail addresses to donitakpaul@msn.com and the colors you prefer. We'll send the bookmarks out poste haste!

I first bought The Bark of the Bog Owl, because I couldn't resist the title. When I read about the Feechiefolk, I couldn't resist buying the next two books.

What's Up?

Nobody guessed again!!!! What's up? I'll pull this one and save it for later.

For today, I have a message from Eric Reinhold. Listen up, because it'll save you money.
~~Thanks for being a supporter of "Ryann Watters and the King's Sword" and spreading the word. There is so much going on right now that I will sum each great piece of news in short snippets so I don't lose anyone's interest:

BIG BOOK SALE (up to 42% off!) - To celebrate the Fantasy Fiction Tour (8 Christian Fantasy Authors joining forces for a huge West Coast Book Tour in Oct (http://www.fantasyfictiontour.com/) the price for Book 1 has dropped (below Amazon) to $13.99. plus I sign it and you get a free 2-sided, full color glossy bookmarker! Go to http://www.ryannwatters.com/ to order 1 copy or an even bigger discount on "Buy 3 Get 1 FREE.
FREE NOVEL LINK - In regards to the Fantasy Tour, go to the following link and you can read an on-going fantasy story written by all the authors. As each author has time, they spontaneously jump in and continue the story. Even we don't know where it's going to lead! http://www.fantasyfictiontour.com/?page_id=248
BOOK 2 UPDATE - I was able to meet up with Corey Wolfe, the cover artist from Book 1, while on a family vacation to the Northwest recently. He is almost done with the cover for Book 2 and it is waaaay cool. Check out the latest news on my fancy new blog at: http://www.ryannwatters.blogspot.com/.
NEW CONTEST - There is a new contest to win any book from any of the authors on the Fantasy Tour. Unlike previous contests, you don't have to have read my book or any of the other authors. You can find out the details at my blog or website.
COOL PRODUCTS - Check out my new Zazzle site at: http://www.zazzle.com/ericreinhold. Customized buttons, shirts, magnets, coffee mugs, and mousepads with characters from my novel, dragons, and other fun stuff (for parents and kids!).
FREE DOWNLOADS - If you haven't been to my website recently, then take another visit. I've had the webmaster add new content; including, free wallpaper downloads, media updates and quotes from readers, and more!

Thanks again for reading and telling others about Ryann Watters. If you're on the West Coast, I hope to see you in October. The tour will be visiting churches, schools, and bookstores from Canada, to Seattle, Portland, San Jose, LA, San Diego, and several places in between. It's great to see what God is doing, and I'm very excited about how book 2 is coming along.

Combo Athlete/Chicken ~ Chicklete?

Time to guess again. This time I am going to take all the names of those who guessed correctly and put them in a hat and pull one out to be the winner. The picture to the left shows you the type of bookmark we are giving away. I love making these. It is very relaxing. I will announce the winner on Wednesday because I have more wacky disconnected facts about the other authors and I want to share them. Fantasy Fiction Book Tour is going to be awesome. I get to spend 8 days with these nuts!

So who do you think made these curiosity-rousing statements?

1. I played in a Heavy Metal Band
2. I spent several summers working in a strawberry patch
3. I once played beach volleyball against Olympic/Pro Beach Volleyball Champion Sinjin Smyth
4. I used to be terrified of unfinished basements
5. When it comes to nachos, I believe in the "Moundage Principle"

Contest Winner!

The winner is Alassiel! Send your address and your color choice to donitakpaul@msn.com and we will send you the beaded dragon bookmark.

Eric Reinhold

1. The first instrument I learned to play was the accordian. My folks enjoyed Lawrence Welk (yeah, who's he? Ask your parents), so I ended up in a class of 15 other kids playing my ruby red and white accordian.
   
2. I lived in 6 different states by the time I was in the 3rd grade. I was born in Michigan, moved to Rochester, NY one year later, then off to Dallas, TX two years after that, then Champaign, I'll three years later, next was San Bernadino, CA 9 months after that (my dad took a job with Campus Crusade for Christ), then 10 months later they transferred us to Miami, FL.
   
3. I can swallow my tongue (yes and keep breathing at the same time). Really want to be on Letterman's "Stupid Human Tricks." I found out I could swallow my tongue in 8th grade. I've never run across someone else who can do it. Once, when sitting in a dentist chair, I swallowed it and rolled my eyes back in my head. The dental hygenist screamed and went running out of the room (she thought I was having a seizure). She came back with the dentist and I was sitting up smiling (I have a mischievious streak).
   
4. In 5th grade I wrote, illustrated and sold a comic book to my fellow students.
   
5. I swam competitively until switching to football and got a college scholarship to play football at a div 1 school. I was recruited to play defensive end for the Navy football team back in 1983. David Robinson was playing basketball for the Naval Academy while I was there. I ate all the time to try and gain weight, but could never get over 225 lbs. I wish I could eat like that now and not gain weight!
   
6. I married my highschool sweetheart. We both attended the same church from gradeschool up and lived 1 mile from each other.

Tongue-Swallowing Accordian Player Makes Another Touchdown

Just so you know, I asked my fantasy fiction friends to give me two sets of clues, so you can't look back and say, "oh, it can't be so-and-so, because she/he's already done it." And even I have a list of weird facts, so it might be me.

And here is a pic of the type of bookmark that is the prize. You get to choose the main color of the beads.

Same as last time: put your guess in the comments.

1. The first instrument I learned to play was the accordian.
2. I lived in 6 different states by the time I was in the 3rd grade.
3. I can swallow my tongue (yes and keep breathing at the same time). Really want to be on Letterman's "Stupid Human Tricks."
4. In 5th grade I wrote, illustrated and sold a comic book to my fellow 4tudents.
5. I swam competitively until switching to football and got a college scholarship to play football at a div 1 school.
6. I married my highschool sweetheart. We both attended the same church from gradeschool up and lived 1 mile from each other.

Who's on First?

Actually this would be more "Who's on the Fantasy Fiction Tour?"

Your hints for today are

Who dressed . . .

1. like a boxer
2. in a lampshade
3. in top hat and tails
4. in a toga
5. in a Star Trek uniform
6. and like a super hero.

I'll announce the winner on Wednesday. The prize is a beaded dragon bookmark in the color of your choice. Leave your guess in the comments. Come back to see if you won. And I'll get your email address from you then.