Ray Bradbury had a significant influence on my writing as well as my vision of the future. As we begin in earnest to push out into the solar system, I harken back to the book and television series "The Martian Chronicles." It was such beautiful writing (and good acting). 

The deep longing for something just out of reach, and bitter-sweet realization for what could have been is captured perfectly in this scene. It realized the spirit of Bradbury's writing (though other parts of the 1980 miniseries did not.)  I see so much in this scene missing in modern sci-fi movies and television. Modern works seem to lack humanity. 

This scene not only beckons to space travel, but time travel. I wonder if archeologists might feel like Rock Hudson's character as they wander the ruins of places like the Great Pyramids, Angor Watt, Golgi Tepe, and Machu Picchu.  Do they hope for a ghost from the past to step from the  shadows and bestow insight to the past? 

Speaking of hope, only 25 more days until "The Bastard Gods" debuts. 

More book release news coming soon! In the meantime, enjoy the photography. 

I run across some interesting stuff in my research. I enjoyed listening to this and thought you might, too.  This is author Graham Hancock reading from the Hermetic Texts. You can read more about them here.  This is an enjoyable reading and you'll hear a lot of Mr.Hancock's musings after the reading.  These texts come from the 1st through 3rd century AD. They are supposedly to set in Egypt, but the flavor is definitely Greco-Roman. However, anyone who is passingly familiar with the Bible will recognize strong and familiar themes from Revelation. 

#grahamhancock #hermetic #ancient #texts #mythology #biblical #history 

Please visit my gallery at Fine Art America to view my latest aviation print "The Storm Has Passed."
#photography #aviation #helicopters #storm #airforce #usaf  #specialoperations #rescue 

On August 16th, 2021, the saga of Fu Xi, the God of Names, as well as that of Aizarg and his people, continues in "The Bastard Gods: The Chronicle of Fu Xi Book III".

Two demigods roam a shattered world, one driven by conquest, the other 
on a mission of salvation. Caught in between are humanity’s last survivors. 

From the south marches Leviathan and his army of cannibal warriors. 
After surviving the Cataclysm and a voyage across the world, the son of 
Poseidon is bent on establishing a new “Empire of the Gods.”  The slave Amiran 
is locked in a desperate battle of wits to stop Leviathan. He struggles not only to 
mask his conspiracies from the demigod, but to hide his feelings for the mysterious, 
and beautiful woman who recently washed ashore.    

From the east rides Fu Xi, son of the Goddess Nuwa. He must find the Man with
 White Hair before Leviathan does. He also searches for the half-brother he has 
never known.  Along the way Fu Xi unexpectedly finds a survivor, a beautiful 
woman that could lead him to everything he seeks…if he can keep her alive. 

To the west Aizarg’s bedraggled people make landfall, but at a terrible cost.  
Now the Lo must make their way through perilous mountains, desperately 
trying to find a promised land. Aizarg must keep his people alive and united, 
as forces without and within seek their demise. 

Demigods and mortals are on a collision course, but both are unaware of an 
ancient and dangerous force in their path, one that could change the fortunes 
of both men and gods. 

Eight years ago, I published "Black Sea Gods." Seven years ago this August "Tears of the Dead" hit Amazon. "The Golden Princess," the series prequel for which I had high hopes, debuted five years ago. I dedicate this novel to those readers who patiently waited. It is my deepest hope you enjoy this novel. Thank you. I promise you will not have to wait as long for the final book in the series. 

Pre-order is coming soon!  Please LIKE & SHARE this post and spread the word with your fellow readers! 
#book #debut #fantasy #epicfantasy #coverreveal #kindle #amazon #blackseagods #chronicleoffuxi

​

"Abandoned Wiregrass" News. 

I was out shopping with the wife, and we wandered into our local Barnes and Noble. Sure enough, there was "Abandoned Wiregrass." I  won't lie, its kinda cool to see your book in an actual bookstore. It's not an ego trip, but more like a payoff from many years of hard work.  Hopefully, I will be holding a book signing in the near future at the Dothan Barnes and Noble. As fall approaches and book fairs and art fairs resume across the south, I will be posting new appearance dates. Keep checking back for updates.

"The Bastard Gods" News.

Cover done! Check back here this Saturday, July 10th, for THE BASTARD GODS COVER REVEAL and publishing date announcement. 

​In the meantime, you can catch up on the Chronicles of Fu Xi series here.

#book #barnesandnoble #abandonedwiregrass #books #debut #coverreveal 

"The Old Osceola Hotel" is an image from my book"Abandoned Wiregrass: The Deepest South's Lost and Forgotten Places" (America Through Time, 2021). It is by far the most popular image in my online gallery. Even in decay, the structure had a grace and dignity. When I saw the light pouring through the windows, I knew I had to get some shots. Luckily, the owner was there and showed me around.  If you drive by this structure in downtown Geneva, Alabama these days, you'll see its in the middle of restoration. It's great to see small towns and entrepreneurs  taking action to preserve their historic buildings.

​If you haven't been to Geneva, Alabama, its a beautiful, vibrant small town at the confluence of the Pea and Choctawhatchee Rivers and just a stone's throw from Florida. I think its one of the Wiregrass's true gems.  You can read more about Geneva, Alabama and its history here. 

 I can't wait to see what The Old Osceola looks like fully restored. 

#alabama #wiregrass #abandonedwiregrass #genevaalabama #restoration #travel #photography #south #dixie #urbex #ruins #vacation #tourism 

Happy Independence Day! 

#art #photography #4thofjuly #indepedence #fineart #fineartphotography 

Somewhere in the past few weeks, "Black Sea Gods" hit fifty ratings on Amazon. They say 50 ratings is an important milestone that appeals to the almighty pagan god Algorithm. They say after 50 ratings Algorithm will be greatly pleased and bestow  many blessings upon the product.  I'm not sure if that's true. Perhaps Algorithm will need a shrubbery or some other worthy sacrifice before Amazon highlights "Black Sea Gods" above what it has in the past.

Some books garner 50 reviews in their first ten minutes after release, but most never reach 50 ratings.  What matters to me is 50 readers bothered to leave a review or rating for my novel.  I'm not ashamed to say I'm proud of that.  I'm also proud "Black Sea Gods" continues to occasionally sell and receive positive reviews on both Amazon and Goodreads almost a decade after its release.  What also matters is those 50 reviews have averaged 4.5 stars. I cannot express how important that is to me, or any author, for that matter.  For those readers who took a chance on my indie novels, enjoyed it and left a rating or review - THANK YOU. 

Ratings and reviews don't always mean sales, however.  "Black Sea Gods" and "The Chronicles of Fu Xi" series, wasn't the overwhelming commercial success I had hoped it would be when I started this journey. That hope was born of naivety and market ignorance. I also know that's okay. This series isn't for everyone. Let me explain.

At a writers conference I was once asked what were "Black Sea Gods" "comps", or in other words, where does it fit on the bookshelf at the book store? As a fledgling author,  I didn't have a clear answer back then, but I do now. "Black Sea Gods" belongs on its own bookshelf. This may sound arrogant, but it's not. "Black Sea Gods" is different. If you go back and read its reviews you'll see a trend of people saying they liked it, but didn't quite know what to make of it. These are the best reviews, because I know the novel did what it was supposed to do - entertain and challenge the reader. Is it truly an epic fantasy? Yes, and no. Is "Black Sea Gods"truly historical fiction? Yes, and no. Is it mythological? Yes, and well, no. "Black Sea Gods" is different. It doesn't fit neatly on a shelf or  cleanly in a genre.  So, how would I describe it?

These days, if someone asks be what "Black Sea Gods" is all about, I reply "It's the "Odyssey" meets "The Ten Commandments." Usually, people shrug, say "that's cool", and then change the topic. If they delve deeper, I explain it's about a simple man trying to save all he loves from a world turned violently upside down.  It's about a good and faithful son, who also happens to be a powerful demigod, on a quest to save the world and, in the process, discovers who he truly is. It's about goddess struggling to atone for her past sins, and the wicked gods and humans who have fully surrendered to them. It's about faith and fate and all that lies in between. It's also about perhaps the greatest event in humanity's past: both how it might have been and how humanity remembered it through our faiths, legends and myths.    

"Black Sea Gods" is the book I wanted to read but couldn't find, so I wrote it myself. To those readers who allowed me to share this epic with you and enjoyed it, you have my deepest thanks.  I am the most blessed man in the world to have been able to take this journey. If you want to share this journey with me, I invite you to step into my world with either "Black Sea Gods" or the series prequel "The Golden Princess."

Back to writing. 

Please help me appease the Great and Mighty Algorithm by liking and sharing this post. 


#books #writing #fantasy #epic #adventure #history #mythology #grahamhancock #youngerdryas #audiobooks #ebooks # #RandallCarlson #fingerprintsofthegods