#newbook Wreck of the Lanternfish by C.S. Boyack

December 22, 2021December 10, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 41 Comments

I am so pleased to welcome Lisa Burton back to my blog today. Lisa is the assistant to Craig Boyack, the author of the Lantern series, and so much more. Lisa is here to tell us about Craig’s new book, The Wreck of the Lanternfish, which is the last book in the Lanternfish Trilogy. I have read the other two and enjoyed them very much. I expect this will be as exciting and entertaining as the other two. So welcome, Lisa.

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Oh, my gosh! Thanks for having me back today, John. It’s so nice to get out of the writing cabin and visit with real people. You can imagine my world recently has been a gathering of Craig’s strange creatures. I’ve had everything from root monsters to a talking hat to hang out with for the past year.

I’m here today, because Craig is wrapping up the Lanternfish Trilogy. He’s having a hard time with this, because he’s spent so long with these characters. He never thinks of me, but I’ve also spent a long time with them. If you include the supporting book about Serang’s origin story, there are four volumes here. I’ve had to feed them, house them, clean up after them, and take them to photo shoots.

I love animals, so that part’s a labor of love. The anvil bird makes small appearances in all three Lanternfish books. He’s sweet, and talks. I give him grapes. There’s a horselike creature called a snubhorn down in the lower level at the cabin. He’s nice, too, and isn’t a picky eater. Leftovers suit him just fine. When Craig isn’t watching I ride him around the meadow.

Then we come to the Omcrom. These little guys are more like cavemen than anything else. Let me tell you, getting them into a vehicle so we could drive to a photo shoot was a trip. Root monsters yell, “Yay!” then climb right in. These guys are suspicious of everything.

The Fu were simple enough. They come with a medallion that summons them when we need them. They’re kind of like big kitties, and purr when they’re happy. They even earned a happy ending in Wreck of the Lanternfish, and that makes robot girls all gushy inside. You’ll have to read the book to find out what it involves.

There were some gigantic creatures we couldn’t do much with. They showed up for scenes, but had to stay outside the cabin. Things like Fēngbào, the bringer of storms, or Waltus who attacked the ships one day. There’s the moving reef, and even the Grandelor monster who’s still wandering the wilderness in Hollish somewhere.

It takes an effort to write a trilogy. I don’t deny that, but I have to say goodbye to all of them, too. I think readers are going to like the way it all wraps up, and I encourage everyone to check it out.

It’s been a joy talking with your fans today. I should probably get back and clean the cabin from top to bottom before whatever Craig comes up with next shows up. I think he can afford to let me go shopping for a day. Maybe even get my nails done. Lisa needs a new pair of shoes to show off that pedicure.

Wreck of the Lanternfish purchase link

Trilogy link

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Blurb:

James Cuttler created a peaceful spot for he and his wife to settle down. Far from the war that ravages their homeland, far from the reputation he earned as the notorious pirate Captain Bloodwater, and far from responsibility.

A royal Prelonian houseguest is a constant reminder of what’s at stake half a world away, of the friends he put ashore to fight the war. He lives in a dream world that’s temporary, at best. It’s only a matter of time before his guest is identified and the black assassins come for her.

He mortgages his precious vineyard to pay for repairs to his ship. If nothing else, Lanternfish will be one of the most powerful ships in the war, if he’s not already too late.

James will have to merge the skills of commander and con man into something new to make this work. He’ll need to avoid those on his own side who would hang him for piracy.

Serang is half a world away, leading her army of mercenary swordsmen toward the Fulminites. Mistrusted by both sides of the war, she appears as a third combatant on the battlefield. She may eliminate the mysterious order, only to succumb to the demons of her own tragic past.

Strap on your swords and hoist the colors one more time as the thrilling Lanternfish Trilogy comes to an end.

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

November 7, 2019November 6, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 98 Comments

“I see we have Lisa Burton in the house.”
“Yes, kids. So you have the day off.”

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.

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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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Voyage of the Lanternfish – A Visit by Craig Boyack

January 14, 2019January 13, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 75 Comments

Normally today would be a Top Ten Things Not to Do post. Because of the launch of his new book, I decided to invite Craig Boyack to the post to tell you all about it. I have read a number of Craig’s books and loved them all. I have not read Voyage of the Lanternfish but have a belief that it will be terrific based on the others. The top Ten will return next week. The post is all yours Craig.

Thanks for inviting me over, John. I’m here to talk about my new book, Voyage of the Lanternfish. This one is a pirate fantasy and includes magic and monsters.

Lanternfish had one of those magical things happen as I was drafting it. An unexpected theme revealed itself, but not intentionally. Drafting a story is my favorite part because sometimes, things you didn’t plot out influence the story in a small way.

Fatherhood is not intended to be a huge, beating drum in this tale. It’s more of a subtle undertone.

James is my main character. His father was a covert operative, who helped start a war among multiple kingdoms. During the war, he fled in the middle of the night to get his son away from all this.

The lessons were available, but sons rarely put stock in the stories told by parents. Now James is forced into a position much like his father’s, but without the knowledge his old man had.

Dan is another major character, but his father is still alive. If James and Dan succeed at starting this new war, his father will be living on one of the future battlefields.

Mule is a secondary character who shows up later in the book. He leaves his parents, who were quite remarkable. They had much to offer a boy, but he didn’t pay as much attention as he could have. This gives James a chance to become a surrogate father.

Mal is an older character and occasionally gives some fatherly advice. It’s small, but it’s there.

There is a collective knowledge base, one generation away, that could help the pirates immensely, had they paid more attention. Now they have to forge their own way, which is only correct for a story.

I included a bit of dialog about fathers, and missing knowledge, but didn’t go over the top with it. They don’t have much time to lament their formative years and have to get on with the bloody business at hand.

James’ father worked on the land, but he used his small fortune to get James a respectable job in the merchant fleet. James tries to do what his father did for a while, then decides his value is at sea. After all, wars happen at sea too, and perhaps they can start one this way.

I know a good many people who read this will be authors themselves. Have you ever had a sub-plot spring to life during the drafting of your tale? I’d love to hear about it.

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Blurb:

An honorable man is mistaken for his disreputable father. Now he’s pushed into a political scheme to start a war that will spread across multiple kingdoms. James Cuttler’s fiancé is being held captive to ensure he goes through with the plan.

He soon decides his skills are at sea and procures a ship to wage war upon those who disrupted his simple life. He can’t do it alone, so he recruits a band of cutthroats to help him. But first, they need guns and munitions to outfit the ship properly. Deception and trickery will only get them so far. Eventually, they’re going to have to engage the enemy.

James’ goals aren’t necessarily the same as his crew. It’s a delicate balancing act to collect enough loot to keep his crew happy while guiding them back to rescue the girl.

Voyage of the Lanternfish is filled with adventure, magic, and monsters. Lots of monsters. Hoist the colors and come along for the ride.

Purchase Link: http://a-fwd.com/asin-com=B07MP8V633

Bio:

I was born in a town called Elko, Nevada. I like to tell everyone I was born in a small town in the 1940s. I’m not quite that old, but Elko has always been a little behind the times. This gives me a unique perspective of earlier times, and other ways of getting by. Some of this bleeds through into my fiction.

I moved to Idaho right after the turn of the century and never looked back. My writing career was born here, with access to other writers and critique groups I jumped in with both feet.

I like to write about things that have something unusual. My works are in the realm of science fiction, paranormal, and fantasy. The goal is to entertain you for a few hours. I hope you enjoy the ride.

Craig