Blog Archives
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 Finally Available at Amazon.com for the Kindle!
Jak Phoenix just made the jump to the Kindle. The space adventure novel is now available on Amazon.com and five other international Amazon sites. Click here to find it on Amazon.com
Of if you prefer a different page, find yours below:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006R9QS22
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B006R9QS22
https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B006R9QS22
https://www.amazon.it/dp/B006R9QS22
https://www.amazon.es/dp/B006R9QS22
(Remember though, it’s only available in English)
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
Jak Phoenix – A Recommended Read at Fantastic Adventures!
Cheese levels at maximum!!!
So I just found this great post from Brent Nichols on his blog, Fantastic Adventures. He listed Jak Phoenix as a recommended read and I couldn’t be happier. His notes were spot on, understanding the fun of the Jak Phoenix story. Fantastic Adventures can be found here: http://brentnichols.blogspot.com/ Thanks again Brent!
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Recommended Reading – Jak Phoenix
Their finances had dried up, Jak’s ship was falling apart and their weapons and tools should have been on display in a museum. They were facing the reality that they may have to quit and gain real, meaningful employment.
I’ll admit that the cheese factor is fairly high on this one, but this book is too much fun to pass up. Jak Phoenix is a down-at-the-heels would-be space pirate. No risk is too great, no hardship too onerous, if it will save him from the horrors of honest employment. With a dilapidated spaceship, an antiquated pistol, and an unshaven sidekick, he’s trekking across the galaxy in search of a dishonest buck. He is no Captain Kirk, but to his dismay Jak will find that the galaxy needs saving, and no one else is available.
Jak is the ultimate anti-hero, a blend of Han Solo and Spaceman Spiff with a bit of Three Stooges mixed in. It’s a light-hearted adventure that will make you laugh out loud. Don’t try to take it seriously. Just sit back and enjoy the ride. You won’t learn anything profound about the human condition, but you’ll have a lot of fun. Matt Williams has created an old-fashioned space opera that is preposterous, exciting, and thoroughly enjoyable.
Original post by Brent Nichols at his blog Fantastic Fiction http://brentnichols.blogspot.com/2011/06/recommended-reading-jak-phoenix.html
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 Fantasy Novel by Tracy Falbe!
Great news! Fantasy author Tracy Falbe just recently released a new novel — Rys Rising: Book 1
Here’s what she has to say about it:
An outlaw rises to become a dreaded warlord, the terror of kings. He takes the name Amar and seeks to join the Kez, the fiercest mercenary society in the tribal kingdoms of Gyhwen. His fearless ambition is inspired by Onja, a mysterious rys female whose magic has shaped Amar into a loyal friend. He zealously pursues her every command and hopes to join her in her mythic homeland of Jingten. But he knows little about the challenges confronting Onja. She and all rys are the reviled creations of the tabre of Nufal, and Onja longs to expel her hated masters. To liberate the rys, she knows that she will need more than Amar’s help. Onja sees her best hope for an ally in Dacian, a prodigy among rys, but he is loyal to the ruling tabre order and dreams of winning equality for the rys nonviolently. He holds tenaciously to his ideals even as the tabre brutally subjugate him. Will he endure more dark abuses for the sake of peace or reach out to Onja? And what fate is Amar blindly embracing as he kills for her? Like a tree crashing in a storm, all civilizations will crack when hit by the force of the rys rising.
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You should probably head over to her site and download it. Tracy’s work is always amazing. You can download Rys Rising for FREE in Epub, Kindle-compatible PRC, or Adobe PDF here:
http://www.falbepublishing.com/braveluck/free-fantasy-ebook-rys-rising.html
Tracy has also decided to present Rys Rising: Book I as a serialized web novel. The first chapter “Mountain Daughter” is already live and she’ll be updating the novel on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Anyone can start reading here: http://falbepublishing.com/rys-rising/2011/08/02/1-mountain-daughter/
Tracy is a good friend of the Jak Phoenix Universe. Show her some love!
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Matt D. Williams – Author of Jak Phoenix, a space adventure novel.
Characters Page – Just Added!
Look up top…you’ll see a “Characters” tab! Check it out for an appetizer on the main characters in the space adventure novel, Jak Phoenix by Matt D. Williams. As always, a super thanks to Jeff Thomason for his character artwork! Or click here http://jakphoenix.com/characters/
Great Deals for Read an eBook Week on Smashwords.com!
Smashwords.com is once again sponsoring “Read an eBook” week, which runs from March 6th to March 12, 2011. Many of the great authors I’ve featured here on Jakphoenix.com are participating so I thought I’d throw together a list of some of their included works. Now is a great time to check them out for next to nothing!
Jak Phoenix - by Matt Williams
Jak is a space pilot who would rather kick back with a cold drink than stick his neck out to save the galaxy. But, as we all know, life often gets in the way of these ‘big dreams.’ In the spirit of space operas of old, comes a light hearted, action packed novel following the exploits of the best low quality pirate in the galaxy, Jak Phoenix.
50% off this week – only $0.99!
Jak Phoenix: Paid in Full - by Matt Williams
An all new Jak Phoenix space adventure, set before the events of the first novel! Jak and Baxter are asked to pull off a seemingly simple grab – for a big payout. Unfortunately, shady dealings frequently end in space shenanigans.
Air Force pararescueman John Paxton is commanded to lead a team on a dangerous mission—supposedly to rescue the pilot of a stealth fighter. Yet, nothing is as it seems. As the mission goes from bad to worse, Paxton uncovers a deadly plot that threatens National Security. But to fight this enemy, he must also risk the lives of the people he loves the most.
50% off this week – only $1.50!
The Defector - by Mark Chisnell
‘This is a remarkable thriller – chillingly violent, full of tension and with a very original ending.’ Publishing News. Self-interest or selflessness? This is the dilemma at the heart of The Defector – can Martin Cormac turn his back on his ruthless past as a currency trader, a player, and do the right thing? Not when he’s looking for answers in a succession of sleazy bars…
The Wrecking Crew – By Mark Chisnell
‘A real ripping yarn… begging to be made into an all-action film.’ Qantas in-flight magazine. Drug warlord Janac has turned to piracy to fund his battle for control of the Australian narcotics trade. Attacking the MV Shawould on an evil night in the South China Sea, it seems Janac has also found the perfect next victim for his psychotic games… sequel to The Defector.
The Hook (a Wandering Koala tale) – by Jeff Thomason
What if music could do more than affect your mood? What if a song not only got stuck in your head but in the rest of your body as well? What if music became addictive? Someone has discovered a new melody that is more addictive than any drug and is selling it on the streets. Teenagers are hooked with one listen. Only the intervention of a silent wanderer can save the town from an invisible snare.
The Scientific Method (a Wandering Koala tale) - by Jeff Thomason
He’s done it! Brent Jakes has discovered the Unified Field Theory, the Holy Grail of Physics! It will provide unlimited energy, new medical breakthroughs, and other advances only dreamed of before. There’s just one on catch: it’ll cost three men their careers– science is not immune to the corruption of greed and politics. Only the intervention of a silent wanderer can stop them…
Wandering Koala rides The Phantom Coach TPB - by Jeff Thomason
Has anyone ever told you to stay out of an argument because it doesn’t involve you? Do private disputes really stay private, or do they have a larger effect on the world around them? What if a domestic disturbance caused a ghostly disturbance? Mike and Angie are just another couple on just another Friday Night date having just another argument. But this time it won’t stay between them.
50% off this week – only $1.50!
Union of Renegades: The Rys Chronicles Book I – by Tracy Falbe
The epic begins as Dreibrand Veta and the conquering Horde of the Atrophane Empire reach a mythic Wilderness that beckons with a magical call to glory. But Onja, Queen of the rys, a race far more powerful than the greatest human state, guards this land. She has the power to imprison souls and her genocidal rage is legendary. Everything is at risk for her desperate enemies, the union of renegades.
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!
