Thursday – A Little Personal – Serang – A New Book by C.S. Boyack

~ John W. Howell
“I see we have Lisa Burton in the house.”
“Yes, kids. So you have the day off.”
Craig and Lisa
Craig’s Bust and Lisa

I am very pleased to again welcome Lisa Burton who as you know is C.S.Boyack’s Personal Assistant. She is also the host of Lisa Burton Radio on most Thursdays. Here is a link to the last show. Lisa is here to talk about C.S. Boyack’s latest book

So, Welcome to Fiction Favorites, Lisa.

Hi, John. Always a pleasure to visit you during these book tours. Craig has a new book out, and this one ties into the Lanternfish trilogy. But it isn’t part of the trilogy, if that makes sense.

Let me try again. Serang was a popular character in Voyage of the Lanternfish. Her origin is pretty amazing, and Craig decided to turn that into a book. It supports the Lanternfish trilogy, but isn’t part of the trilogy. It also helps quell that urge for more Lanternfish while he finishes writing the remaining tales.

Serang’s father was a fisherman, and he died when she was very young. Her mother abandoned her at a monastery, and she was raised by monks. She learned things she never would have learned otherwise, like reading, writing, and martial arts. She also adopted a lifestyle of service to others and sharing what she has.

Fathers are kind of a driving force behind Voyage of the Lanternfish. James became who he is, because of his father’s actions. Dan also had some father issues he dealt with, and even Mal dealt with some of this from the father’s point of view.

Serang never let go of her father, either. Her memories are limited to the idea that he was a fisherman. She and her master were helping a village, because the Emperor took nearly everything they have for his war. When she stumbled across some old fishing crocks, she used one to reconnect with her father – in a way. The crocks involve a kind of hand fishing, and you can see how they work in my poster.

The Goonch catfish is a real creature living in the waters of Asia. It’s amazing how real creatures were as good as fantasy creatures in this story. Nature is strange and wonderful, and Craig used them where he could. Some of them were enhanced for the fantasy elements of the story, and others are complete fantasy. In the case of the Goonch, he remained as he is in nature.

I thought the scene with Serang and the Goonch was wonderful. I insisted that one of our promotional posters reflect that scene. She wasn’t exactly weepy, but when she became an actual fisherman it was an important event in her life.

I hope your fans enjoy this poster, and feel free to add it to Pinterest or use it for computer backgrounds. And remember, this robot girl is an animal lover, so I practice catch and release.

Thank you, Lisa. This sounds like an excellent read and I certainly enjoyed having you over today. Lucy and Twiggy enjoyed your visit as well and were grateful for the day off.

***

Blurb:

Monastic life is all about duty, service, harmony. For Serang, a young girl abandoned at the temple by her mother after the death of her father, that life becomes all she knows. The monks give her purpose, and become her new family.

When political upheaval causes chaos throughout the land, Serang again loses everything and everyone she loves. Alone, she struggles to survive. She convinces a wandering monk to take her under his wing and complete her training. Thus begins her adventures through strange lands and her trials to become a confident, capable, independent adult.

This is a coming of age story set in a fantasy world. It’s filled with monsters and martial arts, difficulties, and dangers. The serious situations preclude the story from the levity of its predecessor, Voyage of the Lanternfish, but it provides a compelling look at the origin of one of the saga’s most fascinating characters.

Purchase Link http://mybook.to/Serang

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Published by John W. Howell

I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.

98 thoughts on “Thursday – A Little Personal – Serang – A New Book by C.S. Boyack”

  13. Congrats, Craig! I’ll move on to this one when I finish Viral Blues. I’ve been having technical difficulties with Alexa reading it to me lately – she won’t do what I tell her, but we hear her talking when no one is in the room. Weird.

    Liked by 2 people

  15. I downloaded this and can’t wait to read it. I loved Serang in the Lanternfish. I’m critiquing a manuscript for a friend, and then I can delve into Serang’s quest. Can’t wait!

    Liked by 2 people

      1. I started it this weekend when I had a few hours of downtown between stuff for my grandson’s wedding. Love it so far! When I get home, I have to finish critiquing my friend’s manuscript, then I can read it again. And I’m really looking forward to it. Love Serang as a tiger:)

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  18. Congratulations, Craig! I can’t wait to get my hands on this one. It’s such an exciting and nerve-wracking time for an author. That feeling never gets old.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I am feeling like that frazzled cat that used to be a popular meme. Still, it’s exciting and I get to exchange comments with a lot of my online friends. Hope you enjoy Serang when you get around to her.

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  23. I have this book and look forward to reading it over the holidays. The cover is very eye-appealing as is the storyline! Craig is such a great writer of fantasy and I know this is going to be a great story!

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  24. Hi, John! It’s great running into Craig here. Serang is a fascinating character. So, this is a “spin-off” of Lanternfish. Do I need to read Lanternfish first? You both have a great weekend!😊💕

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    2. John advised you correctly. Serang played a good role in Lanternfish, but didn’t enter the story until about 1/3 of the way in. This book is Serang’s coming of age story, where she is an adult in Lanternfish. You can read them in any order you like.

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