An Interview with Author Brian S. Pratt

In January of 2011, I had the honor of speaking with independent author Brian S. Pratt, who was kind enough to answer a few questions. We spoke about his stories, his success and publishing in general. For those of you who don’t know him, he is probably the most successful independent author ever, with thousands upon thousands of books sold without the help of a major publisher. If you’re an author or a fantasy reader, enjoy the interview below!

The full interview can be found at http://jakphoenix.com/2011/01/22/an-interview-with-brian-s-pratt/

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MW: Tell us a little bit about yourself:

BSP: I’m just a regular guy whose imagination tends to run amuck now and again. I am a veteran (Air Force), drove taxi, managed a Pizza Hut and even taught teens to drive for a couple years. Nothing in my history would indicate here’s a guy who is going to write a bunch of books. Of course, anyone who knew me from when I was 12 until now would know that a book is never far from my hand. I read all the time, less so now that I’m writing.  I live in the country and prefer peace and quiet.

Could you give us a quick overview of the Morcyth Saga?

It’s seven books long, never been edited, written in the present tense, and has sold well over 50,000 copies. A rather unbelievable achievement given that I hadn’t a clue what I was doing when I started. Had I known then what I know now, I never would have written it in present tense. Some people just can’t get over that.

The Morcyth Saga is about a teen who is into role playing and likes to read fantasy novels. He goes for a job, ends up in another world where magic works, and then discovers that his experiences from role playing and reading are going to come in rather handy. The way I figured it…

Read the full interview at Jakphoenix.com

An Interview with Fantasy Author Tracy Falbe

About a year ago, I had the opportunity to speak with Tracy Falbe for our first interview in my ‘Checking in With Other Authors’ series. She is an outstanding independent fantasy author with a massive body of work, still growing faster than I can even keep track of. Her work is of the highest quality and her presentation of everything from the novels to her website is downright gorgeous. If you are a fantasy fan, please check out one of her novels in the links below…

Here is some of the the original interview from 2011. You can check out the original post in its entirety right here http://jakphoenix.com/2011/02/10/an-interview-with-fantasy-author-tracy-falbe/

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MW: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

TF: I grew up in rural Michigan which exposed me to nothing exciting. I can’t remember a time when I did not entertain myself with adventuresome daydreams. I was always a princess leading the rebels while dangling over lava pits when I was a little girl. And I always knew that I wanted to write novels when I grew up. When I was in grade school I would draw pictures, write stories on the pictures and then staple them together. I’m a natural born publisher.

After growing up in Michigan I spent most of my adult life in Nevada and Northern California. I earned a journalism degree from California State University, Chico. It’s a good degree for someone who wants to be a writer. Then in 2009 I moved back to Michigan. Living in the Midwest is weird after being out West for so long. I call it rustbelt living. The traffic is light and you can always get a parking space. I sometimes feel like I’m in the witness protection program.

Today I appear to live an ordinary life. I have a husband, kids, dog, and cat. When I’m not writing, I enjoy growing food, bicycling, swimming, boating, and watching depressing documentaries. I read a lot of nonfiction, especially history, economics, spirituality, current affairs, and environmental subjects. Unlike most people I meet, I write novels and sell them on the internet, and I love doing it.

Could you give us a rundown on The Rys Chronicles?

I’m the type of reader and writer who likes characters that are not purely good. Character flaws are interesting….

Check out the full interview at Jakphoenix.com

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Fantasy readers can sample the first novel Union of Renegades by downloading a free copy from her website www.braveluck.com. Paperbacks available too.

All my fantasy novels are also widely available at major online retailers.

Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/939

Amazon Kindle http://www.amazon.com/Union-Renegades-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B003UES7U8/

Barnes & Noble Nook http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Union-of-Renegades/Tracy-Falbe/e/2940000720509/

Google Ebooks http://books.google.com/ebooks?id=ifNnT44l-KIC&dq

Apple iBooks http://itunes.apple.com/en/book/union-renegades-the-rys-chronicles/id365801314?mt=11

Vinyl Sales Increased Almost 40% in 2011!

Great news for vinyl record aficionados like myself. Vinyl record sales increased 39% in 2010. Much of that thanks must go to Record Store Day for helping to generate a new buzz about something that never really went away to begin with. Hopefully this boom in sales will mean record companies will start releasing more material.  See the article here:

http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/permalink/2012/120104vinyl

Matt’s 5 Favorite Albums of 2011 – #1 Foo Fighters – Wasting Light

Here is number 1 of my 5 favorite albums of 2011…

THE FOO FIGHTERS

Wasting Light

The Foo Fighters went back to basics in 2011, even going as far as recording their new album right to analog tape. It paid off big time with an album I must have listened to 30 times in its entirety this year.

Bridge Burning kicks the album off with the Foos pulling out their finest hard rock riffs. I’d like to nominate the second track, and first single, Rope, as the Foo Fighters’ new best song.

For Nirvana fans, there is a touching musical moment in I Should Have Known, when Krist Novoselic shows up to remind us why the bass was such an integral part of the Nirvana sound.

The analog sound of this record comes through wonderfully on vinyl. Taylor’s array of cymbals crash and smash through the speakers like a good record should. It also includes a coupon for a free download of the MP3s, recorded from the vinyl itself.

With a movie, a gigantic album and a Record Store Day-only rarities collection, Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters had a huge year. Wasting Light is quickly becoming not only my favorite album of 2011, but my favorite Foo Fighters record, which is pretty big considering the competition.

Here’s a video for you…The Foo Fighters, playing the entire album live from their studio.

Matt’s 5 Favorite Albums of 2011 – #2 Sloan – The Double Cross

Here is number 2 of my 5 favorite albums of 2011…

SLOAN

The Double Cross

In 2011, Sloan’s 20 year anniversary was celebrated with their 10th full length album, The Double Cross. Needless to say, it didn’t dissapoint.

The album opens with a loud pounding drum beat on Follow the Leader, led by a Chris Murphy vocal (I don’t think he can do anything wrong at this point). The song transitions with a beautiful piano glide into The Answer Was You. The first two tracks are worth the price of the album alone.

My favorite Sloan album is 2006′s Never Hear the End of it. This was their longest album by far, clocking in at over 70 minutes with 30 songs! The Double Cross goes in the opposite direction, coming in at only 34 minutes, proving that Sloan can easily deliver their rock in both long and short doses.

The vinyl has beautiful highs and lows and includes a free MP3 download of the album. I realized that every vinyl I have from Sloan sounds absolutely stellar, so I hope they keep doing whatever it is they’re doing to get these records sounding better than bands selling hundreds of thousands of albums in the US.

Check out the video below – the first 3 songs on the album!

#1 coming up tomorrow…

Matt’s 5 Favorite Albums of 2011 – #3 Wide Mouth Mason – No Bad Days

Here is number 3 of my 5 favorite albums of 2011…

WIDE MOUTH MASON

No Bad Days

In 2011, Wide Mouth Mason parted ways with their long-time bass player and were rewarded with Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar fame, who produced their 2000 album Stew. Since they seem to be on an upswing, both in musical output and popularity, it seems to have paid off.

On No Bad Days, the funky blues reigns supreme in songs drenched in distorted slide guitar and wandering bass riffs. Touring and drinking with ZZ Top seems to have dirtied up their unique blend of blues rock.

The sexy r&b of Shut Up and Kiss Me and Sweet Little Thing keeps things diverse and the last song on the album, The Night Fell, is a perfect two-part album closer. All three are quickly becoming some of my favorite Wide Mouth Mason tracks.

I’ve seen this band twice live, each time just before the drop of a new album. Both shows were of course heavy in new material, which can sometimes be a drag with some bands. Not with Wide Mouth Mason. The energy in everything they play keeps you bopping and focused on guitar-virtuoso Shaun Verreault waiting to see if his guitar is going to melt.

This was the only CD I had to buy this year. Why is this not available on vinyl? I’m still waiting patiently.

Stay tuned for #2

Matt’s 5 Favorite Albums of 2011 – #4 The Sheepdogs – Five Easy Pieces

Here is number 4 of my 5 favorite albums of 2011…

THE SHEEPDOGS

Five Easy Pieces

Ok, so I’m only selecting this 5 song EP from The Sheepdogs because I can’t choose their latest full length album, Learn & Burn, since it technically came out in 2010. I didn’t hear about them until they broke through with the whole Rolling Stone cover thing, but I’m so glad I did.

Sure, there really isn’t anything new and groundbreaking on a Sheepdogs album and that’s the way I like it. Sometimes you need a band to go back to the well and pay tribute to the great music in our past. While listening to the Sheepdogs, you’ll here respectful homages to The Allman Brothers, Buffalo Springfield, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Crosby Stills & Nash, The Beatles and more, sometimes in one song. The EP starts off with blues in your face on the stand-out track, Who?, combining oh so perfect vocal harmonies.

On Five Easy Pieces you’ll also hear the radio version of their single, I Don’t Know, a different recording than on Learn & Burn. The recording quality in general is higher on Five Easy Pieces but I’m not sure I can say I prefer it, since the low-fi sound of Learn & Burn fit the feel of the record perfectly. With their new-found fame they’ll have to find ways to cope with the gloss that will inevitably be forced on top of their next record.

Stay tuned for #3

Matt’s Favorite Albums of 2011 – #5 The Black Keys – El Camino

In 2011 I regrouped and made the full switch to vinyl, listening to everything I could get my hands on. I listened to some killer music this year – some new, some old - so I decided I’d put together one of those lists where I can tell everyone else what they should be listening to.

On second thought, I’m not interested in telling you what you should or shouldn’t listen to. That should be near and dear to you. I’d just like to share what impressed me musically this year in hopes that you might give it a shot. If anyone who reads this has any recommendations for me, I’d love to hear them.

So, I’m going to list my 5 favorite albums of 2011 and post 1 a day – counting back from 5. They are in no particular order, but I have to start somewhere.

Here we go with #5

THE BLACK KEYS

El Camino

In 2011, The Black Keys continued their arena rock ‘upgrade’ while still keeping a firm foothold in their deep blues roots. The songs boom along with a modern blues rock vibe, while still holding true to a vintage feel. Amongst the overdriven guitar is a background sparkling with hand claps, bells and sexy female singers.

Lonely Boy, the first single, gets better every time I hear it and the epic build of Little Black Submarines and it’s miniature ‘Stairway’ construction got my heart pumping on first listen. Deep into the album, the energy is still high on songs like Stop, Stop.

As a nice bonus, the record came with a CD and foldout poster of vans…cool if you are one of those people who like vans so much they want to adorn their walls with pictures of them. While I’m not sure if I like this album as much as 2010′s Brothers, it’s pretty damn good.

Stay tuned for #4…

Jak Phoenix Finally Available at Amazon.com for the Kindle!

Jak Phoenix Finally Available at Amazon.com for the Kindle!.

Jak Phoenix 2 Update – Coming in Spring 2012

Jak Phoenix 2 Update – Coming in Spring 2012.