Get to Know the Authors of Phoenix Comic Fest Booth #696

Hey everyone!  This Memorial Day weekend I'll be hanging out with some of my favorite people at Phoenix Comic Fest - fellow authors Jacob Devlin and Katie Salidas!  Before the event, I thought you might like to learn a little bit about these amazing authors, so I asked them five questions to help us all get to know them a little better ;) ...

DON'T FORGET TO VISIT US AT BOOTH #696 AT PHOENIX COMIC FEST!

MEET JACOB DEVLIN

When Jacob Devlin was four years old, he would lounge around in Batman pajamas and make semi-autobiographical picture books about an adventurous python named Jake the Snake. He is the author of THE CARVER and its two sequels, THE UNSEEN and THE HUMMINGBIRD. When not reading or writing, Jacob loves geeking out at comic book conventions, spoiling his niece, and blasting Italian rock music in his car. He does most of these things in southern Arizona.

1) Where are you from?

I've lived in Southern Arizona most of my life, but spent a few wonderful years in Virginia and consider it like a second home as well.

2) What do you write?

Most of my work (and everything I've published thus far) is MG/YA adventure fantasy. Usually my writing bends a fairy tale or legend somehow, and there's always a strong emphasis on familial love.

3) What are you working on right now?

I'm revising a middle grade adventure fantasy about two siblings who have to hunt down a dragon to rescue their uncle, a famous survivalist who knows everything about bears and nothing about leathery winged beasts.

4) Why do you write?

My mom used to read to me when I was in the hospital with Lymphoma as a

6-year-old, and every book was an escape. It still is for me. Reading, writing, creating opens up spaces for people of any age and any background to grow, heal, or dream.

5) Tell us some of your favorite things ...

Food. Especially brinner. I swear I eat breakfast for dinner more than I eat breakfast for breakfast.

Going to the movies! Especially if it's a new MCU movie.

Traveling and seeing new things.

Music.

FOLLOW JACOB ONLINE

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jacob_devlin/

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/jacob_devlin

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/authorjakedevlin/?ref=bookmarks

Website:​
https://authorjakedevlin.com/

MEET KATIE SALIDAS

Katie Salidas is a best-selling author known for her unique genre-blending style that led the award-winning Paranormal Dystopian Thriller: Dissension.

Host of the Indie YouTube Talk show, Spilling Ink, nerd, Doctor Who fangirl, Las Vegas Native, and SuperMom to three awesome kids, Katie gives new meaning to the term sleep-deprived.

Since 2010 she’s penned four bestselling book series: the Immortalis, Olde Town Pack, Little Werewolf, and the RONE award-winning Chronicles of the Uprising. And as her not-so-secret alter ego, Rozlyn Sparks, she is a USA Today bestselling author of romance with a naughty side.

1.) Where are you from?

Las Vegas

2.) What do you write?

Paranormal & Urban Fantasy

3.) What are you working on right now?

Super Secret project that will be revealed at Phoenix Comic Fest….

4.) Why do you write?

Because I have to tell a story.

5.) Tell us some of your favorite things ...

Raindrops on roses

And whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things…..

FOLLOW KATIE ONLINE

Website:

http://www.katiesalidas.com 

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Katie-Salidas-Author/214780936916

Twitter:

http://twitter.com/QuixoticKatie

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Katie-Salidas/e/B003APXXWO

L.A. Times Festival of Books Recap

     Last weekend I traveled down to Los Angeles with my two best friends in order to take part in the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books.  If you were to ask me to describe the experience in one word, I'd have to call it fabulous.  Hardly a minute went by where I didn't find myself standing at my table and talking to one festival goer after another.  In fact, my voice is still partially gone because of it ;).
     Some of those who visited my booth were readers, others were teachers, aspiring authors and bloggers who specialized in reviewing books.  One woman was a teacher visiting the festival for the day with her literature students, while another was one of my author friends from facebook.  And more than once someone would spot my booth and inform me that they had heard of my books or seen them on amazon and goodreads.
     I handed out dozens of buttons, bookmarks and signed posters, and even sold a good number of books.  And I'm still getting in touch with those who won raffle prizes.  All in all, I had a blast and I even got interviewed by KBEACH (a radio station associated with California State University at Long Beach)!  I'm already thinking about plans for next year's festival and am even researching other book festivals on the West Coast (the Tucson Festival of Books looks like it might be added to my list).
     I leave you with those thoughts for now and some of the pictures we took, but do check in again soon because I plan on posting more pictures later on.  Happy reading for now and I look forward to some R&R and perhaps a little free time to get some more writing done ;).

-J.E. Johnson

The rental van is all packed and ready to go!
 

Laura and Nino helping me set up the first day.
 

Ready to go!
 

A view from the author's seat.
 

The nice people over at KBEACH radio came over and asked if they could talk to
me about my books.  How could I resist? ;)
 

A small crowd at my booth.
 

Signing Otherworld Trilogy posters for fans.

Follow Up on the OC Children's Book Festival

Ready for business!

Hello all,
   It's been quite a while since I've posted anything, I know, since I've been busy with my day job and trying to encourage my Muse to get the rest of Luathara to me as soon as possible.  Although I've been getting up early to work on book three, I'm sorry to say that the story has been sluggish in revealing itself.  Ugh.  I hope that that will change in the next few weeks so I can at least have the first draft done by the end of the month.  I apologize to all of you who have been waiting so eagerly for the rest of Meghan and Cade's story (as an avid reader myself, I understand how you all feel).  In the mean time, here's a quick wrap-up of how the Orange County Children's Book Festival went:

A great close-up of one of my dragons.  This picture was taken by my friend Nino.

   On the last weekend in September, my friends and I traveled down to Costa Mesa to take part in the Orange County Children's Book Festival.  We loaded up the car (mostly with books) and headed down, hoping to have a wonderful experience all around.  Let's start with the aspects of the event that weren't in my favor . . .

My two partners in crime, Laura and Nino, always willing to lend a helping hand.

   The festival itself wasn't as large as I had hoped and my table wasn't in the best of locations.  We were situated on the outskirts of the main square, so although we were able to enjoy the shade on such a hot day, we also were harder to find.   Another disappointment was the fact that most of the people passing through were just under the age range my books are written towards, so by the end of the day, I came back with most of my books still boxed up.  Every now and then people would stop to check out the Oescienne or Otherworld series, but since a vendor selling cotten candy set up camp right next to us, I often had to yell in order to be heard over the noisy equipment.

The full spread :).

   Now, after reading all that, you might think I had a horrible experience at my first Orange County Children's Book Festival.  Yes, it didn't measure up to all that I imagined it would, but I also had some rather wonderful experiences, too.  I found out just before the festival started that I would get an entire table to myself.  Because of this, I was able to spread out more and my friends and I had more freedom to create a fun display.  Next, I got to meet some more YA paranormal writers (and even do a book trade with them!) who were sitting at the tables next to me.  And although I came back with most of my books unsold, I did make some sales and hopefully aquired some new readers.  Finally, I'd have to say the best thing that happened at the book festival was when one of my readers approached me to talk about my books.  She had heard I was going to be at the festival and decided to drop on by with her daughter to say hello.  Simply knowing that someone had read my books and enjoyed them enough to come visit me at my booth made me feel like a celebrity author :).  So all in all, I'm not sure if I'll go to the Orange County Children's Book Festival next year, but if I do, I'll know what to expect next time.

My Faelorehn banner.

Laura and Nino, my book buddies.

A closer look at the final set-up,

The OC Book Festival and Ehriad is Finally Here!

Hello everyone,

I just thought I'd put up this quick post to remind you that the Orange County Children’s Book Festival is this Sunday, September 30th (here is the link with all the info: http://kidsbookfestival.com/).  Be sure to come on by if you happen to be in the area.  This is my first year going to the festival, so I’m eager to check out all the booths and to see all the other authors (and hopefully meet some new readers, too!).  I plan on taking lots of pictures and writing up a post to tell you all how it went, but if you can make it, be sure to come on by and say hello.

Also, I want to let everyone know that Ehríad is now available from amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and smashwords.com for $.99!  If you enjoyed Faelorehn and Dolmarehn, be sure to check out this newest addition to the Otherworld Trilogy. The novella is really three scenes from Faelorehn told from Cade’s point of view.  The whole story ended up being a little over 26,000 words, so not as long as Faelorehn or Dolmarehn, but hopefully it will help fill the time until Luathara is released.  Below is the blurb I included with the ebooks.  Until next time, happy reading!

-J.E. Johnson

From the author of the Otherworld Trilogy . . . Three scenes from Faelorehn, told from Cade’s point of view.

A Single Thread of Magic

Cade MacRoich is Ehríad, a faelah bounty hunter.  When he is compelled to deal with a collection of particularly nasty monsters in the mortal world, he stumbles upon a stream of Faelorehn magic that leads him to something astonishing. 

The Morrigan’s Game

The children of the Weald are protected by the forest’s ancient magic, but when the Morrigan’s faelah manage to break through that barrier, Cade’s sister calls upon him for help.

Broken Geis

Cade has tried in vain to forget about the alluring Meghan Elam.  Unfortunately, the Morrigan’s interest in the young Faelorehn girl puts her in danger and makes Cade realize he is willing to risk everything to keep her safe.

 

Faelorehn Poster for the Orange County Children's Book Festival!

In one short month, I'll be heading down to Costa Mesa, California for the Orange County Children's Book Festival.  I have my paperback books ordered and I'm working on getting some bookmarks and other items done, but one thing I'd like to bring along is a poster for Faelorehn.  I've been spending the last few weeks working here and there on a design that I hope will capture the interest of potential new readers.

 

This is a new book festival for me, so hopefully I'll be prepared.  If not, I'll be sure to take lots of notes for next time.  I'm also hoping that some of you will be able to come by and visit if you live in the area or are visiting.  Now, without further ado, here is the final poster for Faelorehn (Sorry, this was the largest image I could upload that didn't overlap into my side margins :P).  Feel free to comment - there is still time to make corrections/improvements ;).

 

-J.E. Johnson