David M Brown is here, today, not only to discuss Fezariu’s Epiphany and answer tricky questions, but with the chance for a lucky reader to win a $25 Amazon giftcard–and we could all use one (or one thousand 😉 ) of those! So, leave a comment here, join David’s book tour and happy reading!

First the questions, then a bit about a book readers are calling “poignant and moving“, a quick peek inside Fezariu’s Epiphany (that’s the excerpt) and finally, a bit about David.

This is a great guest author post, and I hope you all enjoy it!

 

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Who is your favourite side character in Fezariu’s Epiphany? Tell us about them.

Fezariu has three friends in the Merelax Mercenaries, and I loved writing the character of Vintaro. He’s a toldere from the remote island of Lemanto. The tolderes are an anthropomorphic race with the heads of canines and are very assertive. Vintaro is no exception. He arrives on Merelax Island with brightly coloured attire, pushing himself through a queue of recruits and is preceded only by his very loud mouth. He’s a fun character who offers light relief in the book but beneath the verbosity and heavy drinking is a gifted warrior and loyal friend.

Name your favourite word in any language, and why.

I love the word “ephemeral”.  That definition can be adapted and applied to many things not least a heartfelt but tragic romance.

How would you describe your writing voice?

Hopefully not convoluted! I was once praised at college for writing in a concise manner and I think that forms the essence of what I can convey on the page. As much as I want the reader to have the look and feel of Elenchera, its characters and its stories, I do know that they have the power in their own minds to create the images for themselves. I aim for a balance when it comes to description. I try to do just enough to create an image but never add more description than I feel is necessary. I’d rather have a story that flows seamlessly rather than leaves a reader bogged down sifting through lengthy prose.

What do you hope readers enjoy/remember about Fezariu’s Epiphany?

I hope that they embrace the story and feel that although it is fantasy it is different to fantasy novels they have read previously. I want them to live with Fezariu through his difficult life, stay by his side as he tries to find his way and eventually comes to face the past that nearly ended him when he was just a boy. Most of all, I want readers to be moved by what they read and I do believe that Fezariu’s Epiphany is a sad and emotional story but one that ends in the right way.

If you could have one magical talent, what would it be? And because even magic comes at a price, what would you be willing to give up to acquire the talent? (No more chocolate, ever? No way, not worth it.)

I’ve always thought it would be amazing to be able to breathe underwater. Imagine walking being able to walk at the bottom of the ocean past sunken vessels and bear witness to landmarks that we may never see despite continuing technological innovations. What would I give up for such a gift? Definitely not chocolate, or Italian food, or my whisky but how about the need for sleep? I’m one of these people that wishes my body never needed sleep. I always lament the time I lose each day to slumber. That would be a fair trade.

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The White Oak, Clarendon’s oldest brothel, lured and destroyed men by the thousands. Fezariu was different. He had never been drawn by the White Oak’s vices but the brothel had still ruined him when he was just a boy.

Salvation came in the form of the Merelax Mercenaries – Elenchera’s most prestigious hired hands. They gave Fezariu the chance to escape from his past. Immersed in the world of dangerous assignments in the colonies Fezariu longed to forget everything about his childhood but only in facing the past would he ever be free of it.

RRP: £9.99/$14.99 (paperback), $4.99 (ebook)

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Excerpt from Fezariu’s Epiphany

Chapter 26

The White Oak betrayed the impact of the stranglehold of time. The once pristine sign above the main entrance had faded, while the outer walls were cracked and filthy, their once white coat blemished and degraded. Nonetheless, the clattering of glasses, raucous laughter and jovial music still flowed from the open windows out onto the filthy streets.

Across the street from the White Oak, Fezariu stood with one hand resting on the wall of a derelict house, his eyes were locked on the door of the White Oak and his mind was reliving that fateful day when he had seen his mother entertaining the patrons. She had pushed him aside then, defined the worthlessness that had consumed his very essence until he stumbled upon the path of salvation that led him to Merelax Island and to the mercenaries.

The last time Fezariu had seen the White Oak he had been nothing to his mother, nothing to anyone, but now things were different. He had changed his life around, he was successful now, respected by his peers and finally of some value. With the weight of achievement supporting him, Fezariu finally had the reason and purpose to come back to the White Oak, to prove to his mother what he had done with his life; that he had thrived without her love and without her help. Today he would dictate the exchange between them, show Wild Jessamine that she was just another whore to him and not his mother. As a child, Jessamine had looked down on Fezariu and cast him aside as she would stained garments, but now Fezariu would tower above her and make her feel the same worthlessness he had.

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David M. Brown was born in Barnsley in 1982 and first conceived the idea of Elenchera in college. His love of history and English led him to read these subjects at Huddersfield University. David is inspired by medieval history, Norse mythology and Japanese role-playing video games and anime films. He lives in Huddersfield with his wife Donna and their six rescue cats.

 

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The Elencheran Chronicles: http://elenchera.com

The World According to Dave: http://blog.elenchera.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/elenchera   http://www.facebook.com/fezariu

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/elenchera

Book Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPgcNNLMBvY