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Dancing in Coffee Shops and Other Hobbies.

The coffee shop is one of my favorite places to write. And I love listening to music while I type away. Every so often, I’ll catch my foot tapping along, head bobbing, and sometimes fingers rapping out the beat on the table.

Then I pause. And remember I’m in public.

But when things are as exciting as they have been, it’s hard not to hum along with the catchy songs of summer.

So what are all these exciting things?

THE RUNNERS OF ABRA, my serial novel, is live and kicking. If you’ve been searching for a crazy ride of a story that never lets up, this is definitely the book you’ve been looking for. Every Saturday a new episode is released, and soon the first entry in the series, THE LAST RUNNER, will be complete and available in print format.

It’s been a fun world to play in and explore, filled with strange monsters, narrow escapes, and a mystery spanning worlds…

My first two THRONES novels have been picked up by Crimson Pulse Media, who have signed me on for a six book series in the world of Jack and Molly! Book one, SECRET OF THE LOST KING, will be releasing very soon with all new content! SWORD OF THE BROKEN SON will release sometime this summer, and I’m already hard at work on book three, SKIN OF THE DRAGON LORD!

So needless to say, things are exciting here. I look forward to catching up with all of you, and seeing you deep in the spine of a good book.

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New Series Coming! The Runners of Abra

I am so excited to announce that I have signed on with Crimson Pulse Media to author a serial story in 2017! THE RUNNERS OF ABRA will debut on January 7th on BrockEastman.com!

THE RUNNERS OF ABRA:

When Eric was only thirteen, he was taken from his family and the peaceful rice fields on the island of Jedros to become a Runner. Roaming the five islands of Abra, Runners are tasked with jobs — jobs they must see to the end. Either finish the job or die.

And then a mysterious benefactor arrives with a bag of gold and Eric’s first job: find the girl spotted somewhere in the northern islands responding only to the name Bella. Simple enough. But this job is not what anyone thought. Others are searching for the girl. Others who will kill to keep Bella a secret.

But Bella has her own secret to keep. And if it gets out, the very fabric of the known world will change forever.

Join the launch party on Facebook!

Happy reading!

-Shaun

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BOOK REVIEW: Shadow Chaser by Jerel Law

Back for a third entry, Jonah, Eliza, and Jeremiah Stone face their biggest trials yet in Shadow Chaser, book three in the Son of Angels series by Jerel Law.

Shadow Chaser takes off right where Fire Prophet, book two, left off with Jonah and his siblings at Angel School in New York City. Something evil is lurking in the shadows of the convent where the Quarterlings, part humans, part angelic Nephilim, have been living, studying, and growing closer to God. And coming up next? Mid-term exams that will test the Quarterlings in their skills and faith.

But Jonah Stone has other problems: he keeps hearing strange voices in the dark of night. A shadow seems to creep about in every corner. Not to mention that his face has now been covered in zits and all the other kids in the convent want nothing to do with him. Can Jonah figure out what’s happening in the dark before it overtakes them all?

This entry in the Son of Angels series is not necessarily my favorite of the three so far, but it’s still a good, fun read. Some readers may feel that this book is like an extended add-on to Fire Prophet, with a lot of the action centering around the Angel School in the convent. At times I kept wondering if things would get shaken up a bit, but they stayed pretty much on course until near the end. I won’t give anything away, but something happens at the end of this book that was truly shocking. I’m very interested to see where this story goes in the final book: Truth Runner.

Although parts of the plot feel like a redux, Jonah definitely has the most character development in this book. His life begins to resemble that of an Old Testament prophet, complete with the trials and temptations that came to many of those men and women of God. Jonah’s struggle with his friends feels very real to life, and he grows through the things happening to him rather than becoming vengeful.

Those who have followed Jonah thus far will enjoy Shadow Chaser, but newcomers would do best to go back to book one, Spirit Fighter. Jerel Law remains a solid author with some very different stories to tell. Definitely worth a read.

You can purchase this book on Amazon.com.

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5 Fantasy Authors You Should Be Reading

I’ll admit it: I love reading fantasy stories. There’s just something about the adventure, excitement, quests, monsters, and worlds that are so fascinating and fun to read. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I grew up reading L. Frank Baum’s Oz books from the early 1900’s. Maybe it’s the 1980’s fantasy movies like The Neverending Story and Return to Oz I grew up watching. Either way, fantasy stories are undeniably a good time.

So here are five of my favorite Christian fantasy authors (in no particular order!) that you should be reading:

1. Wayne Thomas Batson

Mr. Batson has written a lot of novels, from epic high fantasy stories like his The Door Within trilogy, to high seas piratical adventures in The Isle Chronicles books, you can’t go wrong with a Batson novel. If you’re looking for rollicking good adventures, I recommend starting with Isle of Swords or Curse of the Spider King. Currently, Batson blogs regularly at Enter the Door Within.

2. Brock Eastman

Although The Quest for Truth series is technically a space opera, there is plenty of sci-fi/fantasy action to keep readers entertained with any of Brock Eastman’s books. Along with his four-part space series, Eastman is also the author of Howlsage, a super fascinating take on spiritual warfare. I couldn’t stop reading Howlsage once I had picked it up. It takes the idea of what if all these different monsters we read about in popular mythology are actually demonic? And what if a group of people were tasked with fighting those spiritual forces of wickedness? He’s also working on a series with author Travis Thrasher (one of my all-time favorite authors), so how can you go wrong?

Brock is very active on social media, and can be found on Facebook.

3. P.W. Catanese

If you’re looking for an author who’s plot twists pull no punches, then look no further than P.W. Catanese. I first read his book Happenstance Found, book one in The Books of Umber series, and I have not gasped out loud so many times in my life. There is an incredibly shocking twist near the end that left me floored and clamoring for the next two books in the trilogy. His other books also tie in loosely to the world of Umber, and I recommend his Further Tales Adventures highly.

Find out more about Mr. Catanese on Facebook.

4. Brandon Mull

One of my favorite authors, Brandon Mull is the author of multiple amazing series, including Fablehaven, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms. Although some of his more recent books have become slightly formulaic, his earlier books are sure to please with fast-moving narratives, exciting adventures, and oftentimes some of the most aggravating situations for characters in all of fiction. So many times I have sat reading a Mull novel and asked myself, “How are these characters ever going to escape this?” And Brandon never disappoints when he does answer that question.

Mull hangs out on the Internet Webs here.

5. E.J. Patten

Okay. This last author on the list is also one of my favorites, but also is one of the most aggravating. Not because his books aren’t good. Because his books are amazing. Return to Exile still remains one of my most memorable reading journeys ever. It’s because there are not enough books from Mr. Patten! You can’t do wrong though to check out this incredible author and the crazy imagination he has. Literally. His imagination is awesomely crazy. Some of the things he has put into his novels boggled my mind with their inventiveness and sheer creativity. I know I am eagerly waiting for the day when book three releases. Did I also mention that he’s hilarious?

E.J. Patten blogs away at Patten Pending.

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BOOK REVIEW: Death Weavers by Brandon Mull

A year was a long time to wait for Five Kingdoms: Book 4: Death Weavers, but, a year wait does not disappoint when it comes to Brandon Mull. Mull’s signature high stakes fantasy adventure fills the pages of this next installment, and definitely leaves a few surprises for the very end that had me gasping at the last pages.

Cole and his friends have been through three of the five kingdoms in the Outskirts: Sambria, Elloweer, and the futuristic kingdom of Zeropolis. And now, they have finally ventured over into Necronum, the land of the dead. Apparitions appear frequently with slippery deals and valuable information. Hunters lick up their trail. And a mysterious fiery horse named the Mare has been sighted roaming the vast lands. When Cole’s friends fall prey to an evil entity, Cole must travel to the land inbetween the Outskirts and death and try to rescue his friends before they are separated from him for good this time.

Death Weavers felt very different from Mull’s other books, but also very similar in some ways. At this point, we have arrived at a bit of a formula for these Five Kingdoms books: find a princess, rescue the princess, and reunite her with her run-amuck power. While that structure is truly at the heart of this fourth book, there are also some other pieces at play. We finally discover more information about some of the evils lurking throughout the Outskirts, and we also learn more about what exactly has happened to bring Cole to these kingdoms. As usual, Mull is quite innovative when it comes to twisting up the typical fantasy tropes and make them into his own creations, giving us some of the most unique places in the five kingdoms yet.

However, Cole continues to remain something of a flat character. This is something I noted from previous installments in the series, and it is definitely true here. Cole has a bit of a character arc, but he feels much more typical than Seth and Kendra from Fablehaven or even Jason from Beyonders. There is something about Cole that seems to keep him stunted in character growth. Is the story still entertaining? Yes. Is it a page-turner? Oh yes. Is Cole someone worth rooting for? Sure…?

Fans of the previous books will love Death Weavers. Newcomers will definitely feel lost entering the series here, and it is really best to go back to Sky Raiders and start from there. Mull has set up some great conflicts for the last book in the series coming in another year, and it will be interesting to see how he ends up wrapping things up.

You can purchase this book on Amazon.com.

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5 Tips for Better Bedtime Storytelling

In 2013, School Library Journal asked families: How many parents read bedtime stories to their kids? According to the poll, about “two-thirds of parents don’t read to their kids every night” (Bayliss, 2013).

Bedtime stories were a huge part of my elementary years. I loved it when my parents would come and read me a story before I drifted off to sleep. Those times not only sparked my imagination, but gave me valuable face time with my parents.

The heart behind Reckless was to give parents, grandparents, guardians, and foster parents the opportunity to connect with their kids through a fun adventure, Bible stories, challenging devotionals on kid level, and discussion questions that can be used throughout the day to continue the conversation.

But maybe you’re thinking: I’m not a very good bedtime storyteller. Well, here are 5 tips on how to be a better bedtime storyteller.

1. Read the story or chapter ahead of time.

Before you take that picture book, chapter book, or story into your child’s bedroom, read it ahead of time. It sounds so simple, but if you know the general direction of where the story is heading, it will help you heaps in telling the story more fluidly. If there are words that you don’t recognize or names you don’t know how to pronounce, a quick Google search for a definition or pronunciation will have you reading more like a pro.

2. Use voices for different characters.

Everyone can make a silly voice or two. Or maybe you can bust out a fun accent for a central character in the story. If you can, mix it up for every character in the story. Speak in a squeaky voice for a mouse or a deep voice for a moose. Give a British accent to the Grandpa, or a southern one to that quirky talking bird.

If you are totally stuck and think: “I just can’t do any voices!” then take a minute to search for Amy Walker on YouTube. She has hordes of videos that will teach you how to speak in an accent in seven minutes or less!

3. Speed up — slightly! — at the exciting parts.

Since you already read the story ahead of time (right, right?), you’ll know when an exciting part might be coming in the story. Speed up your reading just a pinch — not too much, or your kids won’t understand what you’re saying! Putting a little extra speed to an adventurous moment will make a story come alive for your kids.

4. Let your kids interact with the story.

Don’t just close the last page, say “Good Night!”, and rush out the door. Take a couple minutes to ask your child some questions about the story: What was their favorite part? Who was their favorite character? What did the characters learn in the story? If your child was telling the story, what would have happened at the end?

Talking about the story together will help your child process what they’ve heard and help them to relate the story to their own life.

5. Keep reading stories to your children — even when they’re “too old.”

Even if your kids are getting into their upper years of Grade School, take time to continue reading stories together as a family. Even older children love a good story — it’s all about which ones you choose. Ask your kids what book they would like to read together every night and let them be the ones to pick it out at the bookstore or library.

Reading to your child even as they get older will be something they soon won’t forget. It might just spur their love of reading and yours as well.

If you’re looking for a fun book to read to your kids, check out Reckless on Amazon.com!

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BOOK REVIEW: Raising Dragons Graphic Novel by Bryan Davis & James Art Ville

I first discovered Bryan Davis’ Dragons in our Midst series when it released way back in 2004. I remember reading the first book, Raising Dragons, and instantly being drawn in to the story and the characters, and the sheer novelty of a Christian YA fantasy novel that combined dragons, the Bible, and action into one sleek story. Now, over a decade later, Bryan Davis has partnered with James Art Ville to create the graphic novel version of the book that has now grown into three epic dragon-filled book series.

The story is straight from Raising Dragons, and those who have read that book will not find anything new here story-wise. The book centers around a boy named Billy Bannister, who is just trying to survive school when he discovers a strange ability: he can breathe literal fire. Soon, his power is growing out of control, and so is the secret his family has been hiding all these years. Now, an ancient dragon slayer is after Billy and his new, mysterious friend, Bonnie Silver. Together, they must unravel the mystery of Merlin’s riddle, as well as survive the snowy mountains surrounding their town. Only their faith in God can save them now.

Told in a graphic novel format, the story of Raising Dragons is pretty easy to follow. I would even venture so far as to say the graphic novel treatment actually lends itself to the action sequences pretty well, and makes them a bit easier to follow than the novel. However, some of the initial weaknesses of the first book are revealed here. Davis has grown much in his story-telling abilities, and the fact that this first book features some convenient plot devices and logic jumps become even more apparent when pared-down for the visual format. Some of the characterization is also lost in translation, and often we find others explaining the emotions of the main characters rather than seeing them for ourselves. All said, the story was so innovative back in 2004 that much of its weaker points were not as easily noticeable.

As for the art, that is where Raising Dragons Graphic Novel shines. Ville’s style is perfect for this brand, and the way he has brought each of these characters and dragons to life is incredible. The art is great, and it is very easy to see some of his influences from Akira Himekawa and others. The panels flow well from one to the next, and definitely tell the story well. The only thing I could have seen it benefit from is the breakup of some of the sections into chapters. It might have been a tad easier to follow the storyline if there were some definite breaks between sections. Otherwise, the art is really top notch.

Fans of the original Raising Dragons novel will likely love this, as I did, and newcomers to the series can definitely start here as all the essential plot points to set up later books are contained here. It’s definitely worth your while to check out this incredible new artist, and revisit an old favorite in a new way.

You can purchase this book on Amazon.com.

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5 Things You May Not Know About SECRET OF THE LOST KING

Secret of the Lost King, book one in the Thrones series, is one of my favorite stories I’ve ever told. It took over a year to plan, write, edit, and finally release. Stories may begin with one single idea, or grow out of a thousand ideas smashed together and producing something new. But no matter how much planning an author may do, surprises always lurk in the back pages of an author’s mind. And sometimes, stories begin to take on a life of their own.

And so, I present to you: five things you may not know about Secret of the Lost King.

1. Mrs. Keswick was named after the street where my mom grew up.

When Mrs. Keswick walked up the stairs of the orphanage and appeared on the page, Keswick seemed to be the right name for her. My mom grew up on a road called Keswick, and the name fell right into the story and has since stuck. Although, when I started writing, I didn’t know Mrs. Keswick was a “Mrs.” until I discovered the secret past of Mr. Keswick. Something for book two perhaps…?

2. Secret of the Lost King was originally written as a stage play.

Every year, I take a small team of actors to put on a five-act play at a summer camp in Washington state. In summer of 2015, we performed a stage version of the book for 100 grade school students in first to third grade. Monsters are always a staple in every play for the camp, and we had a blast creating the spider creature from the Library of Secrets. It actually shot webbing at the actors, had movable pincers, and could scuttle back and forth. It was also five feet tall. #ArachnophobiaAnyone?

3. The spider creature from the Library of Secrets is unofficially named Mr. Juicy.

A few years ago, I had a spider puppet in my hand and asked a friend’s four-year old daughter what she thought it should be called. She thought about it for a moment and then said: “Mr. Juicy.” I definitely smirked as I wrote the creature into the Library of Secrets. And I definitely, unofficially, named the monster Mr. Juicy.

4. Jack was inspired by the fatherless state of many kids in America.

According to the US Census Bureau, in 2014, “23.6% of US children (17.4 million) lived in father absent homes.” (Click here for more info). So many children throughout America are living in homes where a father is 100% absent. Jack grew up in a place where he never knew his parents, and throughout the book, Jack keeps asking the question: What kind of parents did he have? Where did he come from? And what factors have made him who he is today?

Many kids ask these same questions. Many kids are asking: where do I belong? Who cares about me? I wanted Jack’s own journey to reflect that as well. And, maybe, Jack will find out some of those answers in the future.

5. My favorite part of the book is Chapter 28.

Why is Chapter 28 my favorite? I won’t give anything away about that wonderfully spoilerific chapter, but I will say this: Chapter 28 was the culmination of the book in my mind. Readers may find a different point that matters the most to them, and that’s quite okay — that’s the nature of literature — but for me, Chapter 28 will always be the moment where the story falls into place.

Bible stories are fascinating things. And so often, we don’t know the whole story. In fact, there’s a lot to the story of the character at the center of Chapter 28 that we don’t always hear about growing up. And where that character ends up is a whole tale unto itself.

If you haven’t had the chance to read Secret of the Lost King, you can pick up a copy on Amazon.com!

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BOOK REVIEW: Isle of Stars by Wayne Thomas Batson

When I first heard Wayne Thomas Batson would be returning to the world of pirates, I was beside myself with excitement. Isle of Swords and Isle of Fire were two of my favorites when they first came out back in 2007 and 2008, respectively. So to hear that another installment in what was truly an incredible series of books would be arriving soon was enough to get me itching to return to a world of pirates, swordplay, and adventure. And Batson definitely does not disappoint here.

To begin with, Isle of Stars is a shorter story than the first two books in what is now known as The Isle Chronicles. The story is smaller is scope than the previous two, and the characterization is much more subdued than before. Also, Batson weaves in characters from his Dreamtreaders series, and readers unfamiliar with those books may be lost at the beginning of the book. Also, the plot device to bring in those characters from Dreamtreaders is a little forced, which may turn some readers off.

The story this time circles around Cat and Anne, who are going to be getting married soon — hopefully by Christmas, but no guarantees what with pirates about — when word arrives that the nefarious pirate, Captain Tobias Dredd has surfaced and is looking for the legendary Isle of Stars, an island that has never been desecrated by human sin. When Dredd kidnaps young Hopper, it is up to the crew of Captain Declain Ross’ ship to rescue him and stop Dredd from reaching the starlit isle before it’s too late.

Isle of Stars moves very quickly, and returns the reader to the world of the Batson’s pirates in a way that left me wanting much, much more. I was aching by the last page for another full novel set in this world, and time will tell if Batson plans to return here later. There is some violence here as well that does come across a bit shocking when it arrives, but it fits the world created here.The climax of the book does come rather quickly as well, and I had to stop and take stock of where things were at a couple of times to make sure I was still following the storyline.

All said, Isle of Stars is a very welcome addition to The Isle Chronicles, and I deeply hope Batson continues to put out more of these kinds of adventure stories. Here’s to hoping.

You can purchase this book on Amazon.com.

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Church and Chess

The chess board sat between us. Brown and beige plastic Queens and pawns sat scattered across the playing field. My granddad’s wrinkled fingers gripped the knight. He hopped diagonal and up a space, putting my King in checkmate. I leaned back and sighed as Granddad laughed.

“Gotta pay attention to those knights. They’re sneaky,” he chuckled.

I laughed too. And then Granddad grew more serious. “You still speaking to those kids at church?”

“Yep. It’s a lot of fun too.” I told him about the latest talk I had given to the group of grade schoolers at church. He sat back, French doors behind him, both hands clasped over his bald head. After I was finished, he leaned forward.

“You know, there’s something important you should remember. Always be careful when people talk about Jesus’ death on the cross, but don’t talk about the resurrection. That’s the most important part of the story.”

We would sit and talk like that for hours. About God, about life, about church and chess. We talked about so many different things over the years, I can barely remember them all. But that one day he told me to always remember the resurrection is one that has stuck in my mind for years.

Whenever you talk about the cross, talk about the resurrection too. Because it’s the most important part of the story.

When I sat down to work on Sparrowhawk, I knew I wanted to write about Easter. I also knew I wanted to write something that took place in the Middle Ages, and so I dug in to the research. I discovered that a certain Pope in the fifteenth century loved falconry. Because this Pope loved his falcon and took him nearly everywhere, the nuns throughout the Catholic Church took to falconry as well, bringing their birds into churches across Europe. The falcons, owls, and hawks became such a problem that the leaders of these churches had to tell the nuns to leave the birds in the convent.

A fun tale emerged with the adventure, danger, and settings I love. But something else began to emerge as well: the theme of resurrection. Jesus died on the cross so long ago in Ancient Rome, but that isn’t the end of the story. Jesus came back to life three days later, and now Jesus is alive. That’s what the Easter story is all about: the fact that Jesus defeated death and pain and suffering in that moment of triumph.

So when it came time to dedicate the book, only one person seemed to be the right option: William H. Stevenson, my granddad. He and I spent so much time together talking about Jesus and the Bible, and those memories are the ones I love holding on to.

Granddad passed away in 2014, but he didn’t pass into nothing. He passed into glory as the old spirituals used to say. He’s living in the presence of Jesus and soaking in the rays of His everlasting light.

This Easter, remember: the most important part of the story isn’t death. It’s life.