Blog Archives
Connect with Jak Phoenix and Matt D. Williams on Goodreads.com
Jak Phoenix author Matt D. Williams is on Goodreads.com and so are all the Jak Phoenix space adventures. If you’re a reader there, check out Matt’s author page and become a fan or friend! If you aren’t using Goodreads, check it out today at http://www.goodreads.com
Here is the author page of Matt D. Williams:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4591308.Matt_D_Williams
And below are the pages for each Jak Phoenix title, where you can add them to your collection, rate, review, and connect with other readers and authors!
- Jak Phoenix at Goodreads
- Jak Phoenix 2: The Markazian Deception at Goodreads
- Jak Phoenix: Paid in Full (A FREE Short Story) at Goodreads
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The Jak Phoenix series on iTunes and the iBookstore
The Jak Phoenix series by Matt D. Williams is now available at the Apple iBookstore for those of you looking for a good space adventure ebook for your Apple iPad, iPad2, the New iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. Open iBooks on your iOS device or find it in iTunes on your PC or MAC. Space shenanigans and interstellar inconveniences await!
- Jak Phoenix – eBook on iTunes and iBooks
- Jak Phoenix 2: The Markazian Deception – eBook on iTunes and iBooks
- Jak Phoenix: Paid in Full (A FREE Short Story) – Free on iTunes and iBooks
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Jak Phoenix 2: The Markazian Deception – Coming in Spring 2012
A title announcement on a snowy Canadian Sunday…
Jak Phoenix 2: The Markazian Deception, a space opera sequel by Matt D. Williams, is still on track for a spring 2012 release!
Stay tuned for more info!
Jak Phoenix 2 Update – Coming in Spring 2012
Update!
I just finished the rough draft of Jak Phoenix 2.
Everything is in place and the story is on its way for a Spring 2012 release.
An extra special thanks to everyone who has supported me through 2010 and 2011 and an extra shout out to authors Jeff Thomason, Robert Capko and Tracy Falbe for both assisting and inspiring me to push ahead.
More details including the full title, synopsis and trailer will be coming in the new year. Stay tuned!
Matt D. Williams
Get Jak Phoenix on your iPad!
If you’re getting an iPad or iPhone this holiday season, Jak Phoenix makes a great read. Available on iTunes through the iBooks store, this ebook is a fast paced space adventure written in a light hearted tone.
Here’s a bit of what Feathered Quill Book Reviews had to say:
“Above all, what makes Jak Phoenix a good book is the pacing. Williams brilliantly balances action with plot and character development throughout the book. There is never a dull moment, whether Jak and his friends are outmaneuvering attackers in space, boarding an enemy ship, fighting robotic soldiers, or outwitting captors.”
- Eloise Michael, Feathered Quill Book Reviews
Hopefully you’ll enjoy it too.
An Interview with Fantasy Author Tracy Falbe
Fantasy author Tracy Falbe found the time to answer a few questions about her new book and life in general. Take a read - her answers will show you why she’s a writer…
MW: When we spoke last, I found out you had an adventure of your own this spring with a certain natural disaster. Would you like to share a bit about that experience?
TF: On May 29th a severe storm with 100 mile per hour winds hit Battle Creek, Michigan. I personally believe there were tornadoes in the storm but I don’t know if that was officially confirmed. My neighborhood was badly hit. Battle Creek is an old town and most of the neighborhoods are filled with glorious mature hardwoods. In a matter of minutes hundreds of them came crashing down as the storm tore a swath of destruction through the city, smashing homes and taking out utility lines. On commercial streets without the tree cover, businesses lost roofs and many signs were bent over and torn apart. Everyone is amazed and grateful no one died. A person caught outside in the flying debris could have easily been killed.
I think everyone heeded the sirens because of the many tragic deaths farther south this spring. The storm I experienced came incredibly fast and hit like a hammer. The storm did not so much as blow in as come down straight from the sky. Everything went white outside and I could not see beyond my yard as I rushed my kids into the basement. There was a massive roaring sound and I did not hear what must have been the terrible noise of huge oak trees crashing across my street. The storm plastered my house with chewed up leaves and small branches pierced my yard like spears, but otherwise my property was lucky. Four very large hardwoods, two oaks and two maples, directly threaten my home, but bless their woody hearts they stood firm while many of their mates succumbed all around.
What influence will this event have on your future stories? Are we likely to see some reference creep in?
The colossal power of Nature has always had a presence in my writing. I know that my puny humanity and technology are nothing compared to the chaotic might of a living planet. I’ve beheld the towering darkness of an oncoming dust storm in the Mojave Desert. I’ve endured the choking despair of wild fires while ash rained on my home. I’ve been saved from drowning by a stranger when he pulled me from a rushing river. I’ve watched funnel clouds go by and now I’ve cowered beneath one, so, since you asked, I probably should throw a tornado into a story.
This bad storm has also made me reflect on luck. You really can get lucky for no reason. (And doesn’t a hero in an adventure novel need that?) My home was unscathed. Elsewhere in my neighborhood I saw a property where three tall oaks came down and somehow managed to miss that man’s house AND boat as if a loving god were juggling logs for his sake. Across the street from the same place, vehicles were smashed and one house was about cut in half by falling oaks. Anything can happen and there is not much you can do about it.
Tell us about your new book, Rys Rising.
Rys Rising: Book I is launching my second epic fantasy series. The story is in the same world as The Rys Chronicles but I have gone 2,200 years back in time. I’ve created the ancient civilization of Nufal that was an extinct ruin in my first series, and I’m detailing the early days of the rys and the rise of Onja and Dacian as that race’s Queen and King. Much of the action also involves the western tribal kingdoms and the human character of Amar. This epic was a challenge for me to write because it has three races and two civilizations. Also there is a rivalry between religious sects in Nufal to further complicate things. I’m styling the Rys Rising series as a complex epic told from many angles. It also has a greater emphasis on the bad guy. The fantasy genre for me is about having fun and exploring facets of society even if they are deviant. Rys Rising: Book I has a big focus on outlaws, like the main character Amar. My husband even insists that Amar IS the hero despite his lack of good deeds.
Where does this book fall into the chronological order with the rest of the Rys Chronicles?
Rys Rising is a prequel series, so it is the beginning. Because rys and tabre can live for thousands of years and hibernate, readers will get to meet some of the magical characters from the first series and see their original adventures.
Why did you decide to release this in the weekly serial format?
In addition to making Rys Rising: Book I a free ebook download at my websites, I decided to serialize it chapter by chapter to help market the novel. Every time I post a new chapter it gives me something new to talk about in my marketing efforts. Instead of constantly saying “download my free ebook” I can also say something fresh like “go read this chapter.” I also want to make it easy for people to check out my fiction. Reading a blog post is basically effortless compared to downloading an ebook. People like to read excerpts before committing to actually downloading a file.
I’m also hoping as time goes by and more people read the novel that the blog novel version will serve as a place for readers to comment and discuss the content.
Can you give us a hint of what to expect in the next volumes of the Rys Rising series?
Maybe these hints are best expressed in a tag cloud….adultery, awesomeness, bachelor party, betrayal, burning idols, dancers, drummers, duel, dungeon, enchantments, execution, funeral, magic, monsters, politics, religious war, sacrifice, siege, slaughter, swords, vengeance, wedding…Is this epic enough for you?
What kind of a timeline are we looking at for a release?
I can confidently say that Savage Storm: Rys Rising Book II will be published in October. I wish I could commit to getting New Religion: Rys Rising Book III published in time for Christmas, but realistically it could be January. Book IV that is untitled right now should be out in the last half of 2012. It’s half written.
What kind of format will the next installments arrive in?
Ebooks will be the format of first publication. By far I reach the most readers with ebooks, so digital is my priority. After publishing the ebooks I will develop print-on-demand paperbacks and hardcovers at Lulu.com. I just made the hardcover of Rys Rising: Book I live at Lulu http://www.lulu.com/product/hardcover/rys-rising-book-i/17146690 and the paperback version will be live as soon as I examine a proof copy that is en route to me.
What are you enjoying about your independence in the publishing world?
I love most that I am building a business around my dearest creative passion. I love also that I am writing stories straight from my soul and reaching an audience. This is infinitely better than trying to attract the interest of a publisher, which I wasted four years (2000 -2004) doing. Life is too short to leave my dreams in the hands of others.
Are you writing full time now?
Well, writing for me is not a 40 hour a week thing. If I actually write for two hours in a day, it’s a good session. So maybe that is full time for me. I try to write everyday although right now I am immersed in reading, editing, and proofreading Savage Storm and New Religion. I need to get those two novels fine tuned before I can return to writing the final part. This process allows me to absorb the middle of the epic and ponder the nuances so I can draw everything together in the conclusion. I know from experience that finishing an epic is very hard. Writing The Borderlands of Power: The Rys Chronicles Book IV was very challenging. Plus with every subsequent novel I write I push myself to do better. Although readers will make their individual judgments about each novel, I must always be satisfied that my latest novel is my best yet. An artist must always strive to improve.
What else have you been up to?
I have a ridiculous range of interests. I grow and preserve a lot of food for my family, so I’m busy in the garden and the kitchen. I’m always researching organic gardening and experimenting with plants. My goal is to make my yard as productive as possible, and I’m enjoying a good deal of success with that. I’m also an estate sale addict, which means I go shopping in dead people’s houses. Through the winter I plan to start making some upcycled décor from vintage items. I even have a quilting project.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Thank you for the interview and I wish you much success with Jak Phoenix.
Free ebook Rys Rising: Book I http://www.falbepublishing.com/braveluck/free-fantasy-ebook-rys-rising.html
Blog serial http://falbepublishing.com/rys-rising/2011/08/02/1-mountain-daughter/
Wattpad http://www.wattpad.com/2160964-rys-rising-book-i-chapter-1-mountain-daughter
Also 99 cents at these retailers:
Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/79722
Apple iBooks http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/rys-rising-book-i/id458569652?mt=11
Amazon Kindle http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FYSSSC
B&N Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rys-rising-tracy-falbe/1104808237
New Jak Phoenix Character Sketches from Jeff Thomason
Jeff Thomason was good enough to make another series of character sketches, this time adding his touch to Baxter, Cyan and Murdock. Here is a posting he put on his blog:
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So Matt, the creater of Jak Phoenix, liked the drawings I did so much, he wanted more. And I was glad to draw more. I’ve been interested in this kind of space opera style scifi for a while and have wanted to do something in this style, but I never had a good reason for it. Until now.
The characters were again drawn with a brush dipped in Sumi ink on Strathmore Drawing Paper (the yellow cover), then scanned into my iMac on a Canoscan printer, and digitally colored in Corel Painter X. I really liked the end result. This may be the process I use for all my art for a while.
The original article can be found here.
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Awesome work Jeff!
From left to right: Baxter, Jak, Cyan & Murdock
Jak Phoenix eBook Giveaway at Brave Luck Books
The amazing Tracy Falbe has chosen Jak Phoenix, the space adventure novel by Matt D. Williams, as her monthly ebook giveaway in March 2011. All you have to do is sign up for her reader list and you’re automatically entered for the draw.
So drop by this link: http://www.falbepublishing.com/braveluck/monthly-giveaway-details.html
While you’re there, download her free ebook, Union of Renegades: The Rys Chronicles Book I and check out her other work!
Good luck in the draw.
Thanks Tracy!
A Guest Update from Author Robert Capko
Author Robert Capko, creator of the John Paxton series, stopped by Jakphoenix.com to give us an update on his novel, Say Goodbye.
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Finally you can hold the latest adventure of pararescueman John Paxton right in your hands. Robert Capko’s action/adventure thriller SAY GOODBYE is now available in paperback.
Available in paperback for $8.80 or for the NOOK for $2.99 at
Also available in paperback at Amazon.com
And for your iPhone or iPad through Apple iBooks.
Or ask your favorite bookseller.
What others are saying about SAY GOODBYE:
“Great fast paced book. Seemingly realistic and accurate due to the author’s real-life US Air Force experience. I’d also recommend this to any fans of classic Tom Clancy. Looking forward to The Long Road Home!”
- Matt D. Williams, Author of Jak Phoenix
“After 28.5 years in the Air Force (24.5 active duty, 4 years as a civilian), seeing these super heros in action, I’m so glad to see Robert Capko’s new book SAY GOODBYE hit the streets and pay homage to the–until now–unsung heros of the Air Force. I remember first hearing about PJs when I came into the USAF back in 1982. They’ll go places other services’ special operators won’t! These super Airmen know no fear, and John Paxton is the perfect example. My advice…get a lot of sleep the night before you read the book, because you’ll be going to bed late the day you start reading it…you will NOT be able to put it down!”
- Chief Master Sergeant (Retired) Bill “D”.
“Finally a great military thriller that highlights the exceptional talents of the finest special operations operators, the U.S. Air Force Pararescuemen. The adrenaline was pumping with each page and the many twists and turns keep you speculating to the very end. Military and National Security drama enthusiasts have found a new hero in MSgt. John Paxton. From life and death at 50,000 feet to door busting close combat, from cloak and dagger mystery to raw human survival this book has something for everyone and you will not want to put it down.”
- CHON GANN – Medical, Security, and Intelligence Professional
Robert Capko writes Action/Adventure Thrillers including the John Paxton series. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force and lives in Florida where he is working on his next thriller THE LONG ROAD HOME. More information can be found at his website www.robertcapko.com, join his fan page at http://www.facebook.com/robertjcapkofanpage or follow him on twitter at http://twitter.com/robertcapko
An Interview with Author Mark Chisnell
Today, Matt D. Williams, author of the Jak Phoenix space adventure novel, is speaking with writer, broadcaster and sometimes professional racing sailor, Mark Chisnell.
MW: Hi Mark. Can you tell us about yourself?
MC: I was brought up on the east coast of England, close to both the sea and an inland network of lakes called the Norfolk Broads, so boats were everywhere. I started racing sailing dinghies, got a degree in physics and philosophy and then worked in a factory for a summer to buy a ticket to Australia, with a vague plan to see some stuff and write a book.
By the time I got home I’d published some travel stories in the New Zealand Herald and the South China Morning Post, and I’d broken into the professional sailing circuit via the British America’s Cup team that was racing in Australia at the time. I’ve been bouncing back and forth between those two things – writing and pro sailboat racing – ever since.
Give us a rundown on your book, The Defector.
The Defector began as an idea from my philosophy classes – the Prisoner’s Dilemma is a Games Theory concept that was dreamed up by the RAND corporation, the people who brought us the MAD theory (Mutually Assured Destruction) during the Cold War. I wanted to make it more personal than that, and had in mind a game played for life and death stakes, involving a love triangle. The basic idea immediately makes it a genre book, a thriller, and I went for a classic chase story. The psychotic drug smuggler, Janac forces the hero, Martin Cormac to make a succession of escalating, nightmare choices in his struggle to get free.
It took me about three years to get from the idea to a story with characters and a plot, and to get a first draft down on paper. It took another four years to rewrite it and find a publisher. Random House brought it out (called The Delivery) in 1996 in the UK. Then it was republished as The Defector by Harper Collins in New Zealand and Australia – I was living down there for a while for a sailing competition. And it is now available as an ebook via Smashwords and for Amazon’s Kindle.
The Defector has a sequel called The Wrecking Crew. Tell us about that story.
I had a couple of ideas after The Defector was done. The first was a simple way to fake GPS signals – much simpler than the one used in the James Bond movie, Tomorrow Never Dies, which came out while I was writing The Wrecking Crew. I’m a navigator on the sailboats, so I was very familiar with GPS. The idea was that spoof differential GPS signals could be used in the same way false beacons were lit in the eighteenth century, to lure unwary ships onto the rocks where the crews were murdered and the cargoes stripped.
The second was another moral dilemma which was not uncommon in the age of sail: men in a lifeboat, days from rescue, and nowhere near enough water for them all to make it. Do you share the supplies evenly and keep your fingers crossed for a miracle, or do you ensure just a minority survive for as long as possible… cannibalism and perhaps even murder to survive?
The key to making those two ideas work together was The Defector’s anti-hero, Janac. And as I liked the idea of a sequel that followed the bad guy rather than the hero, that’s what I went for, and The Wrecking Crew was the result.
Where did your inspiration come from when writing this series?
It’s hard to escape from the moral dilemmas, they are an important part of the inspiration in both stories. The books are entertainment, I don’t think anyone is going to mistake them for grand literature – but that doesn’t mean that the reader can’t be left with something to think about afterwards.
Is there an impression or moral that you want to stick with your readers after they finish these books?
It’s not as strong as taking a moral from the story, I’d rather people were left thinking about the character and their decisions. And perhaps thinking about what they might have done in that same situation – the extreme choices in the books do still reflect on things we do every single day.
Is there a third title planned for this series?
Not at the moment, although I do have another idea for Janac that I might one day come back to…
Which authors or other creative types do you look up to?
I guess there are three or four writers that I loved when I was younger, whose influence I can now see in my own work. The first two were Ian Fleming and Alistair MacLean. The latter is almost forgotten now, but he was a hugely successful thriller writer in the 1960s and 1970s, and I could inhale one of his books in an afternoon when I was a kid.
When I was a little older it was books with ideas that took more of a hold – George Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm stopped me in my tracks for weeks, I couldn’t think about anything else. And then there was another largely forgotten book, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig – that was the one that got me studying philosophy as well as physics, so it had a pretty big impact on my life.
You mention that you’re also into sailing and it seems you’ve even written some nautical non-fiction. What have you written in that vein and where can people find them?
After the travel stories I started writing for sailing magazines, and that led to books about sailing. Initially they were technical books, but the more recent ones have been narrative non-fiction about some of the great sailing adventures. The most recent, ‘Spanish Castle to White Night’ was about the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09, and won a prize for the Best Illustrated Book at Sportel Monaco in 2009. I’m hoping to bring out text-only versions of them as eBooks.
There are links to all the books from my Amazon page:
http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Chisnell/e/B001HOL4HG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
What else do you have in the works?
I have another couple of novels that are close to being finished, I hope to get one out as an ebook this year, and the second in 2012. The first is historical fiction, a spy story set in 1936 and based around a true incident involving Sir Thomas Sopwith, who built fighter planes and racing yachts. The second is about a snowboarding expedition into the Himalayas – and there are no boats at all.
Finally, I have another sailing book due for publication in the UK in 2012, and that will be about the Olympics.
Where can people follow you online?
I have a website with a blog and background on my work and writing the novels, and links to all the ebook retailers:
And of course I’m on Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/markchisnell?ref=azorescrown
And Twitter:
http://twitter.com/markchisnell
And Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-Chisnell/187422241285928?v=wall
And Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/markchisnell
I’d love to hear from people on books, writing, sailing, anything!
Thank you so much for speaking about your work today Mark. Do you have anything else to add?
Only that I hope people will try the books and enjoy them – and many, many thanks for asking me along, keep up the great work, and go the Indie revolution!
Check out Mark’s amazing work on Smashwords, where it is already quite well reviewed!
