Category: Writing

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Epic Fantasy Fun! I Just Began Writing One

Andy Zach Fans

Epic Fantasy Fun! I Just Began Writing One yesterday. Boy, did that feel good, to finally get started. I wrote my first scene, 700+ words.

So what’s it all about?

Do you know who Dionne Warwick is?

If you know Dionne Warwick, let me know and I’ll give you a free book.

Epic Fantasy Fun – The Premise

I have working title for my next book. It may or not stick. If you got a better one and I use it, I’ll give you any book of mine, any format. Send your suggestions here or to [email protected].

My working title is: Magic Arrives. My premise is simple: our Earth, in 2023, becomes magical. I’ve worked out most of the rules for my magic system, but I won’t tell anyone, not even the readers of my book. I want the reader to discover how the magic works as the characters do.

Epic Fantasy Fun Andy Zach Fans
Earthrise on the moon. Click the pic to get autographed books directly from me.

What kind of cover am I thinking of? Something like this:

I’ll have my artist add magical hints to make it more fantasy, so people know this book is in the fantasy genre.

Where do you think I get my fantasy ideas from? Take a look at my reviews below.

Epic Fantasy Fun – My Reviews

Epic Fun Fantasy

[ 5 of 5 stars ]
Shelvesfantasy, 
FormatPaperback
StatusJanuary 11, 2023 – Finished Reading
ReviewPatricia McKillip practices her craft of writing fantasy at the highest level in this atmospheric depiction of a city, Ombria, rocked by the death of its regent, Royce. The mysterious and manipulative Black Dominia immediately orders his mistress, Lydea, out on the streets, presumably to die. Lydea, a beautiful former tavern wench, makes her way across the dangerous city at night to her father’s tavern. A mysterious girl, Mag, helps her.

Mag, was raised by a sorceress, Faey, who stays in the shadows of Ombria, content to sell her spells to the highest bidders–including the Black Dominia.

Ms. McKillip introduces more colorful characters, without explaining the magic they contain at all. The complex political and magical mystery continues until the end when the mystery pops like a bubble.

This is a must read for any fan of fantasy with vivid characters. (less)
 

Check out this Fantasy Review

Epic Fantasy Fun

Bronze Rank Brewer (Hawkin’s Magic Beers #1)
Rating[ 4 of 5 stars ]
Shelvesfantasy, read, rpg
FormatKindle Edition
StatusJanuary 6, 2023 – Shelved as: rpg4
ReviewFirst time I’ve read a book by James Ghoul, and I’m looking forward to the second!

Bronze Rank Brewer is a very unconventional RPG-type novel, where the main character, Hawkin, decides to embark on a brewing quest. He doesn’t want to travel; he loves his woody wilderness. He is very sociable and friendly. He befriends both a hideous, deadly monster who becomes a friend and helper and also earns the loyalty of a rejected goblin. And a goddess.

The goddess is of astral planes, not of brewing. Somehow, she thinks Hawkin will become the greatest brewer ever, and the brewing god is upset. So he sends his most trustworthy brewer to find Hawkin and find out his secret.

You will enjoy this one.

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Your Twenty-Fifth Literary Gift of 25 Gifts

Gospel Medley Writer's Block: My Experience

Your Twenty-Fifth Literary Gift of 25 Gifts to Christmas. Merry Christmas, you’ll enjoy this Christmasy excerpt from my non-fiction book, The Gospel Medley.

What happened between the visit of the shepherds to the manger and the visit of the wise men to the house? In this last of a two-part series, you’ll find out! Another momentous prophecy and testimony about Jesus soon after His birth.

That’s not all–my other twenty-four gifts are below for your reading pleasure, not just my twenty-fourth literary gift! You don’t have to unwrap them–just click on them.

Let me know what you think by clicking here or emailing me at [email protected]. As always, everyone who responds with a comment or email will get a free book from me.

My past gifts to you are here:

If you want to keep track of all my blog posts and get free books you can subscribe to my newsletter by clicking here.

Your Twenty-Fifth Literary Gift: From The Gospel Medley

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift
The Gospel Medley back cover

 (After Simeon’s prophecy in the previous post)

36 There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day. 38 Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem. 39 When they [Joseph and Mary had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.[1].

[1] Joseph and Mary eventually returned to Nazareth but moved to a house in Bethlehem by the time the wise men visited. Since Herod died in March of 4 BC, this episode had to take place before then but after Jesus’s birth. “All these things” included the circumcision (nine days) and the purification (thirty days) plus at least three days for travel and three days back. At least two months passed before they fled to Egypt. We know the wise men visited them while they resided in Bethlehem. After their flight to Egypt, they returned to Nazareth.

The Next Episode in Jesus’s Life

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift
The four icons of the four gospels

The Flight to Egypt

Matthew 2:13–23 

13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the young child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy Him.”

14 He arose and took the young child and His mother by night, and departed into Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod;

that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”[1]

Herod’s Slaughter

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out, and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,

18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more.”[2]

19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, 20 “Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel, for those who sought the young child’s life are dead.”

21 He arose and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father, Herod, he was afraid to go there. Being warned in a dream, he withdrew into the region of Galilee, 23 and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

Footnotes from This Section

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift
Back cover detail

[1] Hosea 11:1 – “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.”

[2] Jeremiah 31:15 – Yahweh says: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.

Your Twenty-Fifth Literary Gift Concludes

Gospel Medley cover spread

What do you think of your Twenty-Fifth Literary gift? Let me know right here. Don’t forget I’ll give you a free book after I get your email.

If you like The Gospel Medley you can subscribe to my newsletter here to see all my blog posts and get free books every month. Or you can just stay at my blog, checking back every day until Christmas.

Psst! Audible lets you listen free to my books. Click here right now to find out how.

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Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift of 25 Gifts

Gospel Medley Writer's Block: My Experience

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift of 25 Gifts to Christmas. Merry Christmas, you’ll enjoy this Christmasy excerpt from my non-fiction book, The Gospel Medley.

What happened between the visit of the shepherds to the manger and the visit of the wise men to the house? In this two-part series, you’ll find out! Both parts are coming out today, as my final two gifts to you!

That’s not all–my other twenty-three gifts are below for your reading pleasure, not just my twenty-fourth literary gift! You don’t have to unwrap them–just click on them.

Let me know what you think by clicking here or emailing me at [email protected]. As always, everyone who responds with a comment or email will get a free book from me.

My past gifts to you are here:

If you want to keep track of all my blog posts and get free books you can subscribe to my newsletter by clicking here.

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift: From The Gospel Medley

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift
The Gospel Medley back cover

 (Where the shepherds left us.)

20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, His name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

22 When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought Him up to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord 

23 (as it is written in the law of  the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be holy to the Lord”),[1] 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”[2]

25 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning Him according to the custom of the law, 28 then he received Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

Simeon’s Proclamation

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift
The four icons of the four gospels

“Now You are releasing Your servant, Master, according to Your word, in peace; 30 for my eyes have seen Your salvation, 31 which You have prepared before the face of all peoples; 32 a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of Your people Israel.”[3]

33 Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning Him, 34 and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, His mother, “Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against. 35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

[1]Exodus 13:2, 12, 15 –”Sanctify to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of animal. It is mine.” 12 that you shall set apart to Yahweh all that opens the womb, and every firstborn which you have that comes from an animal. The males shall be Yahweh’s. 15 When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, Yahweh killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of animal. Therefore I sacrifice to Yahweh all that opens the womb, being males; but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’

More Footnotes from This Section

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift
Back cover detail

[2] Leviticus 12:2-4, 8 – 12 Say to the Israelites, If a woman conceives and bears a male child, she shall be unclean seven days, unclean as during her monthly discomfort. 3 And on the eighth day the child shall be circumcised. 4 Then she shall remain [separated] thirty-three days to be purified [from her loss] of blood; she shall touch no hallowed thing nor come into the [court of the] sanctuary until the days of her purifying are over. 8 If she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves, or two young pigeons; the one for a burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.’”

[3] Isaiah 42:6-7 –“I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and make you a covenant for the people, as a light for the nations; 7 to open the blind eyes, to bring the prisoners out of the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness out of the prison. Jeremiah 2:11 – Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Zechariah 2:5 – “For I,” says Yahweh, “will be to her a wall of fire around it, and I will be the glory in the middle of her.”

Your Twenty-Fourth Literary Gift Concludes

Gospel Medley cover spread

What do you think of your Twenty-Fourth Literary gift? Let me know right here. Don’t forget I’ll give you a free book after I get your email.

If you like The Gospel Medley you can subscribe to my newsletter here to see all my blog posts and get free books every month. Or you can just stay at my blog, checking back every day until Christmas.

Psst! Audible lets you listen free to my books. Click here right now to find out how.