Firstly I've been very pleased overall by the positive response. It seems that after all, I wrote a pretty good book back in 2002. Not bad for a first novel.
Secondly, it's interesting how different people take to different characters. Many people like Terry and Joe, which isn't a surprise to me, but others have taken to Maria and Selene. I have my favorites of course, but I wrote the book for my pleasure and not for any particular reader. Therefore it's always interesting to hear people's comments about parts of the book.
It's also been interesting to hear how some people have taken certain parts of the stories, what they think is good and what is not so good. And I say interesting because when one person loves a particular thing and another hates the same thing, you know it's a matter of personal taste. Hmmm.
So, the question comes up, what can you do to please everybody or leave everyone with the same thoughts? You can't!
Finally, as the author, I know something that all my readers do not know. I know that the first book is just that, the first book. The first book deliberately leads the reader down a path that is then blown apart in book two and then completely demolished in book three. Of course, reviewers can't possibly know that until they have read all the books... And there are going to be five of them. What a journey it will end up being!
All in all, I have very positive reflections on the book. After all, I'm not going to complain about any of the reviews I have received so far - they've all been great. But I am interested in seeing how readers themselves reflect on the whole series - once they finally read it.
The Southern Lands epic fantasy series is going to be one heck of a ride!
Get the first book at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords for only $0.99!
Would you wake up in a hot sweat if you lived your night’s dreams as a soldier battling un-earthly creatures, witnessing powerful magic and fighting to save your own life on a daily basis?
English schoolboy Terry West does. Frequently. After digging up some rune coins near a roman road, he has been living in another world inhabited by warlocks, seductresses, priests and prophecy. There Terry is a soldier, Teern Truthbringer, who has been tasked with finding the Xannu - 'he who will lead the people into deliverance.'
If only it wasn’t real; but it is. Very real. When it all began it was even enjoyable, but now Terry’s life is getting very complicated. Somehow he involved his best friend Joe and although it had seemed a good idea at the time, the consequences had been dire. Then there is Susan, the leggy sister of klutzy school-friend Brian. Why does she keep sending him messages?
Terry is struggling to balance the two lives he leads and every day he is losing his grip on reality just a little bit more. He’s been forced to kill enemies; his companion, the magical woman Maria, is scaring him half to death with her abilities; and his parents are on his back about his school work.
How will he balance the two lives he leads, solve two sets of problems, and understand the lessons he receives from both? Only time will tell. But time is something Terry doesn't have too much of, as everything is unfolding in ways he could never have imagined!
Book 1 of 'The Southern Lands' saga
“Listen to the teachings of a wise man. You may not understand all he says but you will surely have nourishment for the future. Be positive and plan for success. Failure to plan is to plan for failure. Worry not at what came before but only prepare yourselves for that which is ahead.” (Pika’Al 10:1-5, The Scriptures of Al’Zaneed)
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