Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Shawn Kass, author of Towns and Towers



Shawn Kass was born in Killeen Texas. He attended a series of colleges while serving as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force. He earned five degrees in subjects including Mathematics, Psychology, Education, and Secure Computer Systems Networking. While on active duty from 1997 to 2006, he was stationed stateside in Texas, California, Florida, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. and while overseas, he served in several Middle East locations.

Upon exiting the service, Shawn became a high school math and science teacher educating students in Washington, D.C., England, and Michigan.




MDB: Why gaming? What prompted you to dream up a virtual world?

SK: I have been a gamer since my parents brought home my first Atari system back in the 80s. The idea of writing something like this, however, didn't strike me until I read Ernest Cline’s amazing book, Ready Player One. Since then, I did some research on other popular LitRPG titles like the Play to Live series and The Way of the Shaman, and then made sure to compliment them by doing something slightly different. I didn't want readers to have to sift through all of the stats and data, and so I shoved that into the background and focused more on the exploration of a beginning game player in a new world.

MDB: If you could transport yourself to the world you created, would you do so? And if you did, which of the game characters would you like to play?

SK: To be honest, I think I would jump into the game. I would want to bring my wife with me as my player two, and I think the experience would be incredible. The main character, Sam, is modeled off several of my own reactions to the gaming world and the tropes usually associated with JRPGs, but I would have handled a few things differently if it had been me. For instance, I think I would have spent more time leveling up by killing off small non-threatening creatures rather than jump in and face some of the trials Sam had to go through.

Friday, August 12, 2016

Sublime Electricity: The Illustrious by Pavel Kornev



In this world, there were no Dark Ages; they were called Bloody instead. In this world, the skies were once obscured by the wings of the fallen, striking fear into the hearts of mankind. In this world, science has freed society of its shackles, and the Second Empire, the empire of humanity, now stretches out from sea to sea. In this world, combat steamships furrow the waters, armored trains await their hour, and army dirigibles float through the heavens. And yet, the delicate balance this world has achieved hangs by a thread. The age of steam is on its way out, and the era of the Sublime Electricity is just beginning. In this time of dramatic transition, even the tiniest deviation in course could topple the world into a vortex of chaos.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J1WY2U6

Monday, August 8, 2016

Author of the Mirror World series

Alexey Osadchuk, Mirror World series


Alexey Osadchuk was born in 1979 in the Ukraine. In the late 1990s his family moved to the south of Spain where they still live today.

Alexey was an avid reader from an early age, devouring adventure novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Jack London and Arthur Conan Doyle.

In 2010 he wrote his first fantasy novel which was immediately accepted by one of Russia’s leading publishing houses Alpha Book.

He also used to be a passionate online gamer which prompted him to write the story of a man who joins an MMORPG game hoping to raise money for his daughter’s heart surgery. In 2013, the first book of Mirror World was published by EKSMO, Russia’s largest publishing house.


MDB: Why gaming? What prompted you to dream up a virtual world?

Osadchuk: It's a young genre which offers new unorthodox ways of character development. It also allows the author to speak about problems in today's society. I just thought it is interesting.

MDB: If you could transport yourself to the world you created, would you do so? And if you did, which of the game characters would you like to play?

Osadchuk: Absolutely! To experience the new and yet untried, yes! Still, I don't think I'd choose a combat class. I'd rather get involved in society's social life, flying dragons and visiting the game's countless locations. I'd love to go and see the kingdom of dwarves. The Alven Forest. The Nameless Isles. That would be awesome!

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Mirror World, book II: The Citadel by Alexey Osadchuk

Mirror World: The Citadel





If you’re a warrior seeking glorious feats, we need you! The walls of the Maragar Citadel are always in need of heroes!

Or are you a wizard in search of forgotten lore? One visit to our Ancient Library will reveal you many a great mystery!

Or are you an online player craving excitement? Then you’d better hurry! The Maragar Citadel is rife with adventure - choose one to your liking!

Performing deeds of online valor is the last thing on Oleg’s mind, though. Neither does he care about any ancient lore. He’s never trusted adventure, anyway. Mirror World is no place for the likes of him. Still, he’s here to stay - at the demand of Reflex Bank which has granted him a loan for his daughter’s hospital treatment. Which is the only reason he’s joined the ranks of the defenders of the Maragar Citadel.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FKC7JTW

By the way we're giving away some free copies via our Facebook lottery.

Didn't read Mirror World? Try now - http://royalroadl.com/fiction/5004