Local NCWN-West Author Releases Third Book

 

Pisgah Forest, NC resident Bob Brooks has released his third novel The Gifted Spawn on 17 February 2021.  Published by Escarpment Press, Indian Land, SC, The Gifted Spawn is a follow-up fantasy novel to Justi the Gifted, published as a trade paperback by Leo Publishing in 2015 and released by the author as an ebook in June 2020.  

The new novel tells the tale of what happens to the children of the hero character who saved his people from occupying barbarians.  High adventure surrounds the discovery of whether the offspring of Justi receive any powers of their mother and father as the entire kingdom is threatened by an evil illegitimate half-brother who clearly did inherit killing power.

“I had a start on the second novel,” said Brooks, “but my impetus to finish the tale came from my granddaughter Lola, who read Justi, liked it, and wanted more.  It has still taken six years to realize the full vision.  That includes drafting and rewriting in response to two critique groups manned by published writers, plus a beta read by my wife, and word-by-word edit in the publication process.”

Brooks said The Gifted Spawn is aimed at fantasy fans of all ages from twelve to ninety-two and anyone who wants a story with a triumphal ending.  “This is fun fantasy spotlighting young characters surviving adventures, combatting monsters, avoiding treachery, and seeking romance.  It’s fast-paced and action-filled with a spirit guardian in a new form, a lynx, which is pictured on the book cover.  I hope it gets the same positive reader reviews as Justi the Gifted received.”

Brooks has been writing since college and seriously in retirement.  His short stories in the science fiction, fantasy, and mystery categories have appeared in printed and ezine formats, including Bewildering Stories, Aurora Wolf, Quantum Muse, and The Great Smokies Review.  In 2017 with his co-author son Andrew, he published a mystery The Clown Forest Murders (Black Opal Books).  He is a member of The Appalachian Roundtable and The Blueridge Writers groups and North Carolina Writers' Network  He is a judge for the Eric M. Hoffer Awards for small and independent published books.  His website is www.brooks-authors.com.

The Gifted Spawn and Justi the Gifted are available in paperback or electronic versions from booksellers and can be obtained at Highland Books, Brevard, NC.

Some words from the author, Bob Brooks:

 

To facilitate your spending, I give you the buying links:

The Gifted Spawn

Ebook  Kindle book  Amazon.com: The Gifted Spawn eBook: Brooks, R.R.: Kindle Store

Paperback  The Gifted Spawn: Brooks, R.R.: 9781734675078: Amazon.com: Books

Note that the digital form is available from all sorts of vendors, including KOBO, Barnes & Nobel, and Apple.

Justi the Gifted

Ebook  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08F73M4BZ/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1

 

Here are some reasons for buying The Gifted Spawn

·        You read Justi the Gifted and long for the rest of the story

·        You need a feel-good story to relieve your anxiety

·        You just want a good tale

·        You feel a great obligation because you know the author

·        You want to support the writing art

·        You want to praise (or skewer) or just comment on the book

Note that all reasons are valid.

Get cozy and read,

Bob

 

Taylor Swift & Karen Paul Holmes's book

 A fun post from Instagram...

Brenda Kay Ledford Publishes Children's Poetry Book

Kelsay Books has published Brenda Kay Ledford's new poetry book, Reagan's Romps.
 This collection is about Brenda's little great-niece, Reagan Blanche.

The book was endorsed by North Carolina Poet Laureate, Jaki Shelton Green; Michael Beadle, a performance poet; and Peggy French, editor Shemom, e-zine, Cardiff, CA.

According to Jaki Shelton Green, "Reagan's Romps is endearing and uplifting, where one finds joy inside of your favorite rain boots.  Brenda Kay Ledford curates a lush, fertile landscape of verse and imagery that is sowing the seeds for the love of poetry and reading."

 Reagan's Romps by:  Brenda Kay Ledford is available at:  www.amazon.com and www.kelsaybooks.com.

                                                  Award-winning author Brenda Kay Ledford

Feb 12 Writers' Night Features Poet/Writer Lisa Ezzard of Tiger Mountain Vineyards

Writers' Night Out via Zoom
Lisa Ezzard
poet, writer & vinter

February 12, 7 pm

Reading & Discussion + Open Mic

Hosted by Karen Paul Holmes & Glenda Beall

For Zoom link and to sign up for Open Mic, please contact glendabeall@msn.com 

Lisa Ezzard is a poet, writer, and the current vintner (wine maker and grower) at Tiger Mountain Vineyards. As the 6th generation on her family farm, which is now a boutique winery, she chose to write poems that follow the growing seasons for her book Vintage (Native Press). Through beautiful imagery and personal details, we learn much about the joys and toils of cultivating grapes, caring for vines, and producing handcrafted, award-winning wines in the N. Georgia mountains. She also writes prose and has an essay in Appalachian Adventure: From Georgia to Maine-a Spectacular Journey on the Great American Trail, a book nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in journalism. 

Lisa taught literature and writing for 25 years in places as varied as the University of Bordeaux in France and the Idyllwild School of Arts in Southern California. She is a member of the Squaw Valley Community of Writers and has received writing grants from Casa Don Miguel in Mexico and Hambidge Art Center in Georgia. Most recently, her work appeared in the anthology, Mountains Piled Upon Mountains: Appalachian Nature Writing in the Anthropocene (WVU Press). Other publishing credits include Wild Goose, Exit 271: Your Georgia Writer’s Resource, The Squaw Valley Review, and From the Web: A Global Anthology of Women's Political Poetry. 

ZOOM Helpful Hints: You can join Writers' Night Out by cell phone, notebook, laptop, or computer and use audio only or audio and video. You can do a test for yourself anytime at zoom.us, where you'll see yourself on video and be able to test your audio too. 

The night of WNO, try to get on before 7 pm to make sure everything is working on your end. You will be in a waiting room until the host opens the door.

Writers' Night Out is the second Friday of every month.
Unlike previous years, we will continue through the winter (via Zoom): 
March 12: Sally Mohney poet & writer, Eventide
April 9: Annette Clapsaddle, novelist, Even as We Breathe

The North Carolina Writers' Network is not allowing in-person events right now. Some time In 2021, we hope to continue in person.