Author InterviewFantasyGiveawaysGregory S. SlombaMiddle GradeThe Deliverers 2 Order of the Crystal Lion
Author Interview (+ Giveaway): Gregory S. Slomba
Hello everyone! I am happy to introduce one of my favourite authors, Gregory S. Slomba, author of The Deliverers series. Yup, The Deliverers is now a series! A month ago, Greg released “The Deliverers 2: Order of the Crystal Lion”, which is the second book of the said series. I am so lucky to have read and reviewed the first book and I am definitely excited to read the second book! If you have time, please read my review of the first book, The Deliverers: Sharky and the Jewel. I gave it 5 out 5 stars rating! :) You can download his first book for FREE (September 2 - 6 only) updated 9/4
So, let’s all welcome Gregory S. Slomba here at My Book and My Coffee.
Ara: Hi Greg! I am so glad that we are able to do this interview. How are you? How’s everything? Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
Greg: I’ve been great. Things are going very nicely. I had a great summer, very busy with vacations and writing and publishing. Let’s see, a little bit about myself. Well, I’m married to a very understanding woman, Stephanie, who puts up with all my writing activities and have two active children, Christian (11) and Abigail (9). Oh yes, and we live with five cats. I say live with because they rule the roost.
I write training programs for a bank in Connecticut, but I’ve always wanted to be an author. That finally happened when The Deliverers: Sharky and the Jewel was published at the end of 2011. Now the second book in the Deliverers series, The Deliverers 2: Order of the Crystal Lion, is out. In my spare time I like to read, go on hikes with the family, blog, and follow the exploits of the Dodgers and Dolphins.
Ara: WOW! All I can say is that I'm glad you decided to pursue the writing. The Deliverers: Sharky and the Jewel is one of my fave books now and I thank you for that. So, I'm curious, why the Fantasy genre?
Greg: Fantasy was just always something I’ve been drawn to. When I was younger books like The Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings grabbed my attention and sparked my imagination. I loved those magical places. So, when I started writing I guess fictional worlds was where I was most comfortable. In fact, the first book I tried to write when I was 13 or so was the 8th Narnia book. That was a bad idea, but I eventually came up with an idea that I was able to turn into a novel.
Ara: :) Everyone has to start somewhere. Let’s talk about the new book in the series, The Deliverers 2: Order of the Crystal Lion. Please tell us more about it.
Greg: In the second book, Eric Scott meets up with his friend Stig the owl to go on another Assignment. Kate and Hallo the dwarf go with them. They have to put a stop to a bloody civil war. One side, the Vynistri, are led by Chancellor Trelango. The opposition, the Chazum, are led by Trelango’s twin brother Selango. The Chazum have been genetically altered by the Vynistri by having lion genes spliced into their DNA. They’ve spent centuries acting as servants and soldiers to the Vynistri. Now, they’re fighting to be free. The danger is that this strife is threatening to escalate and could destroy their world.
Folks can check out the book for themselves at my Amazon author page. I also have a blog, www.thedeliverersseries.com and a Facebook page, https://facebook.com/thedeliverers. I also have a couple of book trailers that I made on Youtube: Book 1 http://youtu.be/eWA5JH9kjPU and Book 2 http://youtu.be/2Qi9fFsvbDI.
Ara: So, the gang (Eric, Stig, Kate and Hallo Tosis) has a new mission! Wonderful! I am more excited to read this one now! :) If you could, please tell us more about the Crystal Lion.
Greg: Cool. The Crystal Lion is someone the Chazum believe will come to lead them to freedom. Some believe the Crystal Lion to be Selango, others feel he hasn’t arrived yet. The Deliverers team up with a society called the Order of the Crystal Lion who act as a kind of underground movement. Their goal is to make sure everyone, Vynistri and Chazum alike, are equal and free.
Ara: I see... I have to ask... Is there or will there be a book three?
Greg: Funny you should ask that! :) Yes, there will be a book three. It’s called (cleverly enough) The Deliverers 3: The Golden Dragon of Ang. I am almost done with the first draft and my artist, Daniel Vogel, has completed the maps and will begin work on the cover soon. I hope to have it out early in 2014. I have plans for five books. As the series progresses, the Deliverers will learn that something is threatening the entire universe. They get a glimpse of this in book 2, but they’ll find out a lot more in books 3 and 4. In book 5 it all comes to a head.
I have to say a word about Daniel. First of all he’s a great illustrator. Secondly, he’s only 15. A friend of mine, Ana Vogel, is a graphic designer and she laid out both of the books for me. When I was putting together the first book, I asked her if she would be interested in doing the artwork, because she’s a very gifted artist. She said fantasy illustration was not really her talent, but that her son Daniel had leanings that way. So, I asked him if he would be interested, and the rest is history!
Ara: AWESOME! My, my! I am super excited! :D Can't wait to read the second book. Note to self: I must read the book two before Greg releases book three. :) And really? The artist is only 15? Wonderful! He is really talented, I gotta say. Can't wait to see the next cover!
Greg, do you have advice to bloggers out there who want to become a writer?
Greg: Write a lot. Don’t be afraid to take risks. Even if you fail, you’ll learn and grow. Write what you enjoy—don’t follow fads or what’s hot and fashionable just because it is. Make sure you have a support group—people you trust to bounce ideas off of. Whenever possible, have your writing edited by an expert. Writing can be a lonely calling, make sure you take time to spend with family and friends—don’t obsess. At the same time, always be on the lookout for ideas wherever you are—you never know when they’ll strike. Lastly, don’t let anyone tell you something can’t be done. If you’re determined enough, you can find a way.
Ara: Thank you for the advice, Greg. That's very inspiring! :) Before we end this interview, I really have to ask these:
Coffee, sweet tea or hot cocoa?
Greg: Hmmm. When I’m at work, coffee. On a cold day in front of the fire, hot cocoa. Definitely!
Ara: I know your favourite book is The Lord of the Rings. But if you have to choose one fiction book outside that genre, which book will it be?
Greg: Wow. That’s hard. I enjoy history, particularly sports history and American history, middle grade and YA literature. There are two that jump to mind; Bums, an Oral History of the Brooklyn Dodgers by Peter Golenbock, and My Brother Sam is Dead by Christopher and James Lincoln Collier. The last is a middle grade historical novel set in the American Revolution near where I grew up in Connecticut. When I was in grade school, Christopher Collier came and spoke to our class. I brought my copy of the book to school and had him sign it. I still have it today. It was really cool and the book was great, too!
Ara: Lastly, who is your favorite ‘friend’ from F.R.I.E.N.D.S.?
Greg: Definitely Ross. He’s smart and somewhat of a geek, but he’s a good guy who’s kind of sweet at times. Plus, he’s a palaeontologist. How cool is that?
Thanks for having me Ara. I loved your questions and I want to thank you for all your support.
Ara: Ahh.. I love Ross, too! I actually love them all. Haha! And you are very welcome, Greg. Thank you for your time today.
Lovelies, please go ahead and check out Greg's new book, The Deliverers 2: Order of the Crystal Lion. Here's the book description:
Who will fight—for the Order, for freedom?
For centuries, the Vynistri have been splicing lion DNA to the genes of their servants, the Chazum, using a device called the Machine. Now an army of Chazum and sympathetic Vynistri are waging a bloody civil war to overthrow the Vynistri’s evil ruler, Chancellor Trelango. In their latest Assignment, the Deliverers—Eric Scott, Stig the owl, Kate Endria and Hallo Tosis the dwarf—are charged with putting an end to the fighting and restoring balance to the world. Aided by a secret society called the Order of the Crystal Lion, Eric and the rest of the Deliverers must overcome tragedy and loss to fight for freedom and equality. Spurring them on is the Order’s belief that the long awaited Crystal Lion has arrived to deliver the world. Is it true, or will Trelango destroy them all?
Book Trailer:
.. HERE'S THE GIVEAWAY :)Gregory S. Slomba grew up in Connecticut reading The Phantom Tollbooth, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of the Rings and dreaming of being a children's author.
He studied English at the University of Dayton, and then worked as a banker for 20 years, taking care of other people's money. Somewhere in there he also took four years out and worked as an editor for a flooring trade magazine. He got to go to some neat places (Las Vegas, Arizona, Spain) to write about carpet, hardwood and ceramic tiles. Now he designs and writes training courses for bankers.
He likes to read fantasy, historical fiction, history, middle grade and young adult literature, biographies, sports history, and anything else that seems interesting. The Lord of the Rings is my favorite book, followed closely by The Hobbit, The Chronicles of Narnia, Redwall, and Harry Potter.
Greg lives in Connecticut with his wife, Stephanie and his children, Christian and Abigail.
2 lucky winners.
Giveaway is international
Kindle edition - .mobi file or sent as a gift from Amazon
Winners will be chosen on September 23.
6 Dazzling Comments
Great interview Greg & Ara! I love Ross too :) Looking forward to book 3
ReplyDeleteHi Karen :) Thank you! :) Yay to Ross! :D
DeleteThanks for stopping by Karen. Thanks for the great interview Ara!
ReplyDeleteI didn't enter the giveaway because I have a copy of the second book and want someone else to have the chance to read this excellent book. I really enjoyed this interview. Greg and Daniel are a great team! I can't wait to read the 3rd book. I am sure it will be amazing! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Stephanie :) Thanks for stopping by! :D That's so nice of you. Yes, I agree. They are a great team!
DeleteGreat interview. I know that I'd really like to read this. Thanks for sharing Greg with us and hosting this giveaway.
ReplyDeleteBesos, Sarah
Blogger at Journeys of The Zoo