All for RenFaire, and RenFaire for All!

Have no doubt, my friends, these are serious times. And for this reason, I have never been more appreciative of the revelry that converges at the NJ Renaissance Faire at Liberty Lake.  http://www.njrenfaire.com

This weekend my family strolled in costume among the RenFaire community, savoring the spontaneous interaction with the inhabitants of Crossford. The village welcomed me with a hearty “M’Lord,” and my daughters each garnered a gentle “M’Lady.” Indeed, Hallie and Hannah giggled uncontrollably upon discovering that the players bowed in their presence until released. “Rise, good sir,” had a pleasant lilt from the lips of my pre-teen princesses.

Hannah roamed the merchant stands with discerning and fickle taste, while her older sister marked treasures with practiced confidence. My girls opened their hearts and imaginations, and prepared for barter and baubles, as the townsfolk were ever-so-gracious in their dealings. To mention only some, is a disservice to the rest – we cherished them all.

Similarly, there are not enough words to adequately describe the amazing performers! Impromptu stage and troubadour skits, music and jest, song and rhyme, flames and daring acrobatics, archery and swordplay, a living chess match and fine spirits to imbibe… it was too much to absorb in a single outing.

My compliments to Phil Leipf as the villainous Comte de Rochefort, to Melissa L.E. Baker as his temptress co-conspirator Milady de Winter, and to Katie Horahan as the charming Duchess of Northumberland, and still, there are more notes of special attention…

 At mid-afternoon, we sheltered from a passing thunderstorm within the Willows Stage structure. Therein, my little girls were drafted by the Bard of Avon – William Shakespeare – as he organized an abbreviated and raucous audience participation version of “Twelfth Night and The Three Little Bears.” The good natured folks in the crowd were hilarious in their guided acting, and Will’s wit was sharper than all the nearby swords.

Thereafter, and harkening to the days of old, we experienced true artisanship. We stood spellbound at the forge of “Historical Glassworks,” as master glass blower Jason Klein crafted a Renaissance-style fluted wine decanter before our eyes. With absolutely no pressure from the onlookers, and between ample puffing breaths of creation, Jason explained his techniques, issued commands to apprentices, and orchestrated a delicate dance of molten glass.

Meandering away from that skillful glass menagerie, we happened upon a fearsome couple arrayed for the Zombie Apocalypse! They offered my daughters a copy of the Adventurer’s Handbook – a publication by TJ Miller and John A. Williams a/k/a The Lords of Adventure: Roger Awesome and Jack Bold. My girls boldly whispered to these armor-bound warriors that we owned two copies already, and then demurely asked if they would consent to pose for a picture.

After snapping the above cameo, we thought it wise to retreat to the jousting arena for our fill of knights, horses and chivalry. But along the way, we spied the Royal Falconer and his avian charges. Perched at rest, the birds were beautiful and majestic. During the falconry demonstration it was simply nature’s magic, as they soared aloft the entire encampment, banked a few feet over our heads, and launched talons-a-ready upon the Falconer’s twirling lure.

On our way back to the main amphitheatre, I was waylaid at “LaForge Weapons.” Sparks flew both in the blazing furnace and on the sturdy anvil. There were regal decorative weapons a’plenty, but I required a combat blade capable

of enduring full throttle impact – steel on steel. I selected a likely candidate off the rack and then asked the master smith if its edge would stay keen in hard battle. No words echoed in reply, though I think a slight growl ensued… he then gripped the sword from my hand, moved his anvil into position, bade me step back, and firmly struck the blade’s edge upon the anvil with not one, but three ringing blows. With a satisfed grin on his face, the weapon was returned for my inspection. I anticipated a chip given the enthusiasm of his test… I found not even the hint of a scratch.

At day’s end, the girls and I lounged at the Lakeside Amphitheatre enjoying a cornucopia of musicians and performers. I sipped a glass of cabernet-merlot courtesy of the Valenzano Winery. Within the hour, the primary acting Troupe escorted a horde of Faire-goers to our venue for the final reconciliation between D’Artagnon and Constance, and the Comte de Rochefort and Countess de Winter. Yes, as you may have guessed, regards to Alexandre Dumas, for this year’s RenFaire theme is the Three Musketeers. After due ceremonies, the players serenaded the crowd with a last ballad and a simple wish – that we may all be present to do this again. Amen. As I listened with Hallie and Hannah, I thought of my wife: she was absent from our festivities in order to comfort a dying friend of the family. My eyes blurred, and I thanked the powers-that-be for my blessings and the opportunity to share our day among such joyful and talented folk.

You can yet partake, for I’m told that the 2012 NJ Renaissance Faire will continue for at least one more weekend – June 9th and 10th. Failing that, perhaps it will be another worthy RenFaire in your home state. For let it be written and let it be said: we can all do with more laughter and love!

Humanity’s Epitaph: Space Colonization, Extinction, Jane Goodall and the Medieval Vikings

Recently, our family attended an evening program featuring a conversation with Dr. Jane Goodall. This graceful and passionate elder was a role model extraordinaire for my adolescent daughters. Dr. Goodall talked of humble beginnings, her family’s unwavering support, bold adventures and the future conservation of this ship we call “Earth.” What a “lived” life! We were fortunate that night to be accompanied by an ethnobotanist who personally knows Dr. Goodall. The after-lecture thoughts were profound and spicy, in contrast to the sleet frosting the streets of New Brunswick. I respected Dr. Goodall’s message, but pushed the envelope much further – from a terrestrial boundary to the boundless. Yes, I’m referring to the Universe. And yes, I acknowledge the possibility that the Universe might be bounded. But for purposes of this discussion, I’m not delving into spatial expansion or contraction under Big Bang Theory, Inflationary Cosmology or any other model – let’s just say that from a practical perspective, the Cosmos may as well be infinite.

While I continue to take responsibility for my actions, and will do my utmost to launch the maximum positive ripples into this linked firmament of earthbound life, i.e., the George Bailey effect, part of me was distracted from Dr. Goodall’s worthy admonitions. Maybe it’s the generational difference or that Africa is less of the “undiscovered country” these days, but I have always been enthralled by the stars. Perhaps, it was too many episodes of Star Trek, an excess of science fiction novels and movies, or an innate awareness that simply gazing into the night sky stirs my thoughts to realms of wonder. Regardless of the source of my fascination, my instincts are irrepressible. Thus, as I sat listening to Dr. Goodall, my mind argued the pros and cons for humanity’s extraterrestrial ambitions.

The need is paramount for us to establish multiple fountainheads in Space. The very survival of the human species demands this result – a manifest destiny. My mother always told me not to put my eggs in one basket. It was a lesson I took to heart. So too, must humanity. Will it be a rogue meteor strike, an unstoppable Andromeda Strain, environmental toxins, cataclysmic climate change, nuclear annihilation, a gamma ray burst, or simply death by a thousand cuts as we careen into the unyielding barrier of our little fish bowl? I don’t have the answer. These events may not happen in this lifetime, or even a hundred lifetimes. I’m not a doomer – it’s a basic probability calculation of time and odds. As a realist, I see the need to diversify our portfolio… to increase our chances of Universal sustainability. So, whether it’s a moonbase, a fleet of city-size starships, another planet, a separate dimension, a deviant time-scape or an alternate universe – our race must formulate strategic plans and allocate resources now. And yet, beyond raw survival, there is a less quantifiable reason that I’m shooting-for-the-moon. 

Historians now recognize that apart from raiding voyages to Britain, and settlements in Greenland, the Medieval Vikings established a presence in the New World (Newfoundland circa 1000) far earlier than Christopher Columbus. They journeyed over perilous seas to strange lands and unknown destinies. What spirit drove them to such extremes? Surely not everyone wished for an express Valkyrian escort into Valhalla? Perhaps more intrinsic urges held sway. There were vast resources, territories where families could thrive, and freedom – an awakened Soul-searing, Fate-be-damned FREEDOM.

 In the realm of legend, these Norsemen (men and women) are larger than life, as were their Gods. The Mighty Thor battled endlessly with the Frost Jotnar and other giant creatures. Their heroes like Beowulf and Siegfried had the strength of ten men and single-handedly destroyed monsters of epic scale. This perception of robust and virile peoples continues in several related mythologies. An apt example from the Celtic mythos is the tale of the Irish hero Oisin (Fin McCool’s son) and the fabled land of Tir na nog. Niamh of the Golden Hair guides Oisin to this faerie kingdom beyond the western horizon. He rides with her across the ocean on a magic horse. Once there, he resides for a brief time with Niamh, but longing for home, he departs on her steed with a warning not to let his feet touch the ground. When he regains the shores of Eire, he is bewildered to find that the primeval forests have been transformed into tame pastures. Asking after the fortunes of his family – the Fianna – he is told they are the stuff of legend and three hundred years have passed while he visited with Niamh. He encounters a group of Irishmen, whom he thinks are boys by their small stature and inability to move a boulder. He offers to help, and mindful of Niamh’s caution, he leans over in the saddle and uses one hand to fling the boulder aside. Unfortunately for him, the girth breaks and he falls to the ground. In seconds, old age catches him.

This Oisin tale is a fascinating transition from the legends of old to the beginning of the modern period. Why are the modern peoples portrayed as shrunken and weak? Could this unflattering physical depiction in mythology reflect a decline of the human spirit? Or is the answer something more scientific such as that the Norse/Celtic genetic lineage was forged from closer ties with that of our Ice Age Cro-Magnon ancestors? Well, I have two responses for you to ponder. In the first instance, there may indeed be more powerful physical features that flourished in a Darwinian lottery. Humans were massive and stronger because that’s representative of those that endured to successfully reproduce. The very actions of a questing life, exploring uncharted oceans and lands, and waging a contest with all that Mother Nature had to offer may have spawned “legendary” human biological characteristics. However, equally relevant is the “joie de vivre”… the spiritual energy that fed the “liberated being” of those early humans and inspired them to deeds seemingly beyond mere mortals. 

While sipping a fresh blend of coffee with a wonderful friend, we had the debate. He posed the question of whether that yearning for discovery within humanity is a fatal flaw – an anachronistic leftover of genetic recombination after a dark prehistory. As a self-proclaimed proud and hardy scion of peasant stock from the Old Country, he would rather spend his years on a hundred acre farm savoring good food, loving his family and laughing with friends. I admit to the allure of this vision. But looking within, I must also face the reality that for me there may be no such rest without a little voice whispering in my ear… that undeniable twitching of the psyche that wants to know what’s behind Door Number Two even if it means losing everything. I cannot say whether this restless trait is our saving grace or our undoing. But I informed my friend that if I could seize the opportunity, I would take my family to the stars. Like the early pioneers, we would forge a new life. In part, I think the days of his halcyon retirement scenario are dwindling. Assuming the requisite level of prosperity, he can still do so in this lifetime – but what of his children, his grandchildren, his great-grandchildren? This world on which we live is shrinking, just like the image of civilized man in the legends. No, the Earth is not contracting, other than a minor tectonic plate shift now and again. I’m speaking metaphorically about “freedom.” Population continues to explode across the globe, resources remain finite, and the Hobbesian compact of civilization that was made long ago is tightening with chain-like strength around our bulging necks.

I’m too young to have any memory of the Apollo moon missions. But you can feel the excitement even from the news reels. The average Joe on the street was enthralled by Space exploration. Dinner conversations had more than their share of prognostications on aliens, other worlds and future technological innovation. It was a time when anything seemed possible and when the “best” in us rose to the forefront. A generation of children grew up wanting to be astronauts and scientists. Can you say the same today? Let me clarify that I have no problem with humans in other careers, but if the Sirens of the digital age lure our brightest into a Lotus Eater sleep of the living dead – well, you can understand my concern. As I write, NASA has been essentially cancelled, and society’s “bread and circus” atmosphere is overwhelming. Even with my own children, I don’t merely fight, I wage WAR every single day to limit the video games, the meaningless TV dribble, the consumerism, the media brainwashing, the presence of impure foods (GMO, sugar, syrups, chemicals, contaminants) and most importantly, the dulling effects of an educational system that dims the light in their eyes. We desperately need critical thinkers, innovators and dreamers.

There were some readers who viewed me as anti-technology after my recent science fiction spin piece “Regards to the Father of Aviation.” However, don’t sign me up for the Amish just yet, and that lost Amazon tribe will have to subsist without one more mouth to feed. What I was arguing for therein, was fundamental liberty – the right to be free from encroachment and to follow the dictates of the Soul. Try to name one creature that has improved for having been tamed, that has not been tragically lessened in the transformation. A gilded cage may keep you safe and alive, but what is the measure of that existence? I’m not advocating anarchy. However, I am suggesting that we inherently need to ride the storm’s edge. It is on that threshold that our actions rise to the heights of Heaven or fall to the depths of Hell. For now, technology is a necessary partner along that continuum to help us understand the Universe, to propel human achievement and to insure our survival. But we need to evolve humanistic mechanisms alongside technical inspiration to preserve that which makes us “heroically” human. With each passing year, we are advancing our metaphysical understanding of the Cosmos. We have a lexicon of quantum particles in the Standard Model to supplement electron, proton and neutron, and we are creeping toward resolution of such mysteries as the Higgs Boson, Dark Matter, and Dark Energy. However, while acknowledging the genius of our machines, I believe our greatest advancement has been programmed within our very being. I have no doubt that one day our curiosity, perseverance and desire for inner exploration will enable human consciousness to make the leap between worlds and realities. Everything we are and experience, may have started as ONE interconnected incredibly dense singularity. Even if this proves overstated, our experiments are revealing what more of us are intuitively recognizing – there are varying levels of quantum entanglement in all matter and energy. For now, we might employ descriptive euphemisms like Einstein’s “spooky action at a distance” or endearing analogies like Schrodinger’s Cat. In the future, however, the wave-like nature of the subatomic particles that comprise the nearly empty space that we call matter might be transported to an infinite locale simply by consciousness “willing” it so. Perhaps, this type of journey is possible today in limited aspects for literally a handful of people. Admittedly, evolution may require another million years for this “breakthrough” – I like that word as it nicely captures the essence of the task. However, until such capabilities can be effectively harnessed, the imperative for more accessible human colonization beyond Earth must be embraced and actualized.

My friend from the coffee session also suggested that we might be alone in the Universe… that life might be unique to Earth. Putting religion aside, he cited the improbable chain of causation that must have occurred for life to have arisen here, and then calculated the astronomical odds of duplicating that elsewhere. Taking this supposition as true for the moment, this implies that we have a higher obligation to colonize “life” throughout the Cosmos. For such a wondrous creation as the Universe cannot have been engendered for an inanimate and meaningless death dance across infinity. However, let me shatter this premise of solitude with the same reply that I gave to my friend, “Nonsense!” I explained that when you look at the vast scope of existence, the sheer number of stars (estimated currently between ten sextillion and one septillion) that inhabit the known Universe, those incredible odds don’t seem all that compelling anymore. I then reminded my friend of a counterargument intrinsic to our world: the millimeter size Water Bear (Tardigrade). Water Bears are able to survive a wide array of brutal environments that include temperatures approaching absolute zero, a thousand times more radiation than would kill a human, the absence of water for a decade, and most relevant to this conversation: the vacuum of Interstellar Space. On this note, he relented, and qualified his statement to mean the absence of carbon-based life. In this alternate path, I maintained to my friend that even if humans are members of a vast orchestra of life spread across the Universe, we yet have qualities that argue for reserving our seat at the Galactic table: love, creativity, altruism, curiosity, compassion, and intelligence.

Humanity must arise from its slumber! Now is the time for our collective consciousness to lift its ostrich head from the illusory sands of this tipping vessel, and to focus our intentions on the expansive reality of the Universe. We are mandated to shatter the confines of our planetary lifeboat. Yes, there will be unbearable sacrifices, appalling death and strange adaptations that may fracture our species, but these will be offset by a legacy of freedom and glory that will forever rescue humanity from an epitaph of ignominy and irrelevance.

New Fantasy and Sci-fi Author to Attend BookExpo America 2009

In these uncertain times, when digesting the daily serving of discouraging news, remember that there is no greater fountain of hope than that which lies in the deep waters of the human soul.  

Since my prior Blog entry, my author labors have consisted of marketing Book I, working on Book II, and preparing for BookExpo America 2009 (BEA). Trust me… that triumvirate speaks volumes. There are not enough hours in the day. BEA, held in New York City this week, is touted as the largest North American publishing industry event. I have an exhibit booth and will be autographing The Soulstealer War during the Sci-Fi Salute on Saturday.

While my next entry will recap tales of BEA, here’s a recent Press Release for those who aren’t familiar with either my background or the Realm of Weir.

PRINCETON, New Jersey – March 2009 – Released in January 2008, The Soulstealer War: The First Mother’s Fire, is the first book in an epic fantasy series of magic and mysticism by debut author W.L. Hoffman. Despite the risks and challenges inherent with small press/self-publishing, the novel’s critically acclaimed content has propelled Hoffman from relative obscurity to placement on Barnes & Noble’s shelves. In August 2008, due to demand, a second printing of the novel was completed in traditional offset lithography format. Ingram is the distributor. For a new author, the learning curve has been steep – and a dream come true – but one replete with trials and tribulations. There’s a story in that journey in addition to the novel’s unique fantasy vision that touches upon philosophy, the universe and true magic. The novel also features dazzling original cover art by the esteemed Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell. BookExpo America 2009 held in New York City is the next career step for Hoffman who knows that beyond talent, it takes perseverance and luck to succeed as a writer. While he hopes this opportunity will bring heightened access to readers and mainstream publishers, Hoffman is thrilled to participate in this milestone. 

“This is one of the best fantasy books… within the past couple of years.”  Roundtable Reviews

“Indeed, it is the mark of good genre fiction that it is able to transcend its foundations and shake the very rafters of existence.  Douglas Adams did it with his Hitchhiker’s Guide series, Tolkien did it with his Middle Earth, and now W. L. Hoffman has done it with the beginning of The Soulstealer War series.” Front Street Reviews

“Highly recommended for community library fantasy collections and for fantasy lovers in general…” Midwest Book Review, Small Press Bookwatch Vol. 7, No. 5

About the Book: Unemployed after graduation, Kenneth McNary seeks inspiration on the Appalachian Trail. He never suspected that it would find him first. Ken is transported to a fairytale world by a god-like sentience and is tasked with uniting its denizens for a coming war—a war with eternal consequences for every soul consumed by the Enemy. While grappling with his strange surroundings, Ken learns that humans are slaves to near-immortal beings who have lost their magic. Complicating this situation is a mysterious new race of magic wielders and the reappearance of subterranean, flesh-eating creatures long thought extinct. To survive and embrace his destiny in a land hostile to humanity, Ken must discover the Fire within. But he faces two problems: he is a novice pitted against masters, and the magic may kill him before the masters do!

About the Author: W.L. Hoffman was born in the 1960’s in Atlantic City. Hoffman’s interest in reading fantasy and science fiction was voracious from an early age. He took advanced English curricula through high school, received his BA in English from Duke University and attended English literature classes at New College at Oxford University in England. Following his introduction to legislative drafting while serving in the Duke University student government, Hoffman obtained his JD from Cornell Law School. While there, his dreams wandered into strange realms as he quested for life’s higher meaning. Thus was born the foundation for The Soulstealer War. Ultimately, Hoffman left his law practice to pursue his writing career and currently resides in central NJ with his wife and daughters. He enjoys spending time with his family in their organic vegetable garden, exploring the Sourland Mountains, and telling tales on the front porch to the next generation of dreamers and writers.

The Soulstealer War: The First Mother’s Fire

By W.L. Hoffman, http://www.SoulstealerWar.com

ISBN-13 (Paperback): 978-1598-585-391    

Price: $14.95 – 284 Pages      

BookExpo America 2009, Booth 5049, May 29-June 1, Javits Center, NY

For more information: WLHoffman@SoulstealerWar.com

The Soulstealer War – on the B&N Shelves!

The Soulstealer War has been available since January at www.Amazon.com, www.BarnesandNoble.com, www.Borders.com and through stores affiliated with www.BookSense.com. As a first time author supported by a “small press,” I have experienced both the trials and joys of introducing the novel. I would like to announce that…

 

Barnes & Noble is now stocking The Soulstealer War on their shelves!

 

Very few folks in my position get to this threshold even with a novel that has garnered praise from the professional critics. So whether it’s to seek a relaxing diversion from the current headlines or to brighten a friend’s day with a thoughtful gift, I encourage you to visit your local Barnes & Noble for The Soulstealer War (they can order it if sold out).

 

With much gratitude,

 

 

W.L. Hoffman – breathe slowly, observe humbly, dream deeply and evolve.

http://www.SoulstealerWar.com 

The Soulstealer War – Author Update

When it comes to writing and blogging, I recognize that my audience varies. Based upon prior communications, it’s fair to identify two dominant groups from the crowd – those who want insight on the business of writing and those who embrace the fantasy & sci-fi discussions. In the last month, my blog entries have been in stasis while I focused upon the business side of the equation, i.e., completing the traditional print run of the novel and revising the distribution arrangement with Ingram Book Co. to facilitate the novel’s appearance on the shelves. Through perseverance and a bit of luck, this milestone is within sight. But I still need your help spreading the word to family, friends, book clubs, etc.

 

At the same time, in mid-July I gave a presentation on “Magic & Metaphysics” in Margate City, NJ. The lecture was designed to introduce folks to the metaphysics (meaning of life and the universe) and magic system within the novel that I believe have application within real life… a blending of the mystical and of cosmology, where science and religion meet. Germinating from that gathering was a great article in today’s issue of The Breeze of Atlantic County (a very local newspaper) on the novel and the juxtaposition between my observations of true magic on Earth and fantasy magic in the Realm of Weir. Newspaper copies can be found throughout Atlantic County, but otherwise see page 19 at http://www.shorenewstoday.com/breeze/. It should be accessible there until next Friday… and thereafter available at http://www.SoulstealerWar.com.

 

This article also marks a transition to my next few posts which will cater to the folks who want more fantasy & sci-fi, and as good a starting place as any is the subject of MAGIC – not pulling a rabbit from a hat, but potentially dark and deadly power.

 

Please accept my continuing gratitude for your ongoing support.

 

Best,

 

W.L. Hoffman

WLHoffman@SoulstealerWar.com

http://www.SoulstealerWar.com

 

Philology in Philly – The Soulstealer War meets Wizard World

There are those folks who suggested that I should have attended the BookExpo America (BEA) convention in Los Angeles rather than spending three days at Wizard World Philly. I’m sure they meant well. From my perspective, however, it was too early to take the initial novel in my series – The Soulstealer War – to BEA, especially considering the travel hurdle and that I would have embarked upon such a journey without a single sample of the novel’s pending traditional print run (5,000 copies). As I write this entry, final printing is anticipated next week. Rest easy, there are no substantive changes… instead, a few typos have been erased from existence and there are featured book review quotes.

 

Yet, casting aside the practical mantle, Wizard World Philly was a blast! Even in this dismal economy, the fans arrived in throngs (many in full regalia with fan favorites Star Wars, Iron Man and assorted Cyberpunk meets Doom combos) toting funds no doubt stashed in some secret account awaiting this opportunity to be traded for a comic of rare antiquity, a prized rendering from an industry legend or other treasured collectible.

 

Sure, I did have my doubts when I learned that the Guitar Hero III stage was twenty-five feet from my booth and that my neighbors were a line-up of autograph wielding professional wrestlers – classic and current superstars. As it turns out, while making conversation tough for a few hours, Guitar Hero III was truly a crowd pleaser. The wrestlers included the likes of The Iron Sheik, Eugene, Virgil, Nikolai Volkoff and the big gun – Lou Ferrigno a/k/a The Incredible Hulk. Although the wrestlers stayed to themselves, and their fan base had less interest in my creation, it made for entertaining if not chaotic spectacle over the three-day extravaganza. I also commend Nikolai Volkoff, who epitomizes the stereotypical Russian bear, for his philosophical debate on Nietzsche, intriguing discussion on “governments gone bad,” and dedicated observations on the miracles of Ayurvedic Medicine. I am honored to have met him.

 

In fact, I am proud and grateful to have met with each and every one of you good people who lingered by my display to peruse the novel’s back cover synopsis, ogle the five-foot map of The Eastern Rim of Weir and take a chance on this relatively unknown but aspiring fantasy/sci-fi author. These conventions are a ton of work for me, but remain one of the best ways to dynamically interact with my audience, meet other people who dream of worlds beyond our shores and share my vision of a more evolved human condition.

 

Until next time…

 

W.L. Hoffman – breathe slowly, observe humbly, dream deeply and evolve.

 

WLHoffman@SoulstealerWar.com

http://www.SoulstealerWar.com

http://SoulstealerWar.Wordpress.com

 

P.S.  The randomly drawn winner of the crystal globe giveaway is Karen Graham (please send me your mailing address). Congratulations!

Author Interview by Dr. Joseph Riggio, host of Intentional Performance on WebTalkRadio.net

Coming from a small publisher (effectively self-published), I am constantly battling and occasionally appeasing the gods of “Bookdom” in order to spread the word to mainstream media and to encourage readers to delve into my newly released fantasy/sci-fi novel – The First Mother’s Fire, Book One of The Soulstealer War series.

Today’s Blog entry is my twenty minute interview with Dr. Joseph Riggio host of the Intentional Performance show on WebTalkRadio.net. The Link below will take you to my interview, and on my computer, I had to click “yes” to enable an active X control to run so that the interview could play. I recommend the discussion for anyone who wants insight on how to achieve your dreams and on what trials and tribulations we authors endure… albeit willingly.

http://www.webtalkradio.net/content/view/496/33/

Enjoy with my blessing.

W.L. Hoffman
WLHoffman@SoulstealerWar.com
http://www.SoulstealerWar.com

A Fantasy Author in New York Comic-Con’s Court – Awesome

Okay, I’ve come up for air. No, I have not yet responded to all my e-mail traffic from the New York Comic-Con weekend. I promise you that I will, but this post takes priority.

 

My first major convention was loads of fun, serious work and an amazing learning experience.  I took hours to set up my booth. It was to be the public stage for greeting fantasy/sci-fi fans of all ages and introducing The Soulstealer War in the non-virtual world. As good as a website can be, it takes a back seat to the face-to-face with folks and I wanted to put my best foot forward. There were tables, chairs, coverings, stickers, wooden chests, leather boxes, parchment signs, silk scrolls, books, lamps, candles, seven feet of armor and other accents to handle – all designed to create the right atmosphere.

 

There were impressive technical displays by the major industry players, and less spectacular, but equally satisfying, sights to be found in the convention’s nether recesses. I imagine it was impossible for the fans in one weekend to find their way to every nook and alternate realm. However, I met my share. I was tucked in the Small Press community, an abode of independent risk-taking artists and publishers who seemed to be phantoms – Aisle 2200 bore neither a ceiling sign nor a “Small Press” banner – perhaps some industry handicaps will always remain. Then again, it could be that lady Fate retains her sense of humor. Heck, even the “Podcast” area had a banner sign.

 

Despite these hurdles and the seemingly endless garden of visual delights, a lot of you found your way to my table. It was simultaneously humbling, thrilling and harrowing – adding lots of java to the three day mix only hyped the surreal factor. Whether I was just

 

–       talking fantasy & sci-fi;

–         offering my tidbits on the novel and characters;

–         tracing the story-line on the five-foot map of the Eastern Rim of Weir;

–         meeting industry professionals;

–         chatting with the librarians;

–         encouraging fellow writers to complete their manuscripts;

–         scrutinizing sample materials from the supporting cast of marketing people;

–         discovering fantasy & sci-fi reviewers and bloggers;

–         waving to Stan Lee as he passed my table with a retinue at his heels

–         casting an approving glance at the costumed attendees; and

–         making a note that I need to find out where the Star Wars Stormtrooper armor and weaponry can be acquired…

 

 … it was my great pleasure and sincere honor to be counted among those present.

 

THANK YOU ALL.

 

W.L. Hoffman

 

P.S. – Congratulations to Dawn Toledo, winner of my crystal globe drawing.

 

P.P.S. – This message was copied to my e-mail database so that the update can reach those of you who are not yet tracking my Blog sites: http://SoulstealerWar.Blogspot.com and http://SoulstealerWar.Wordpress.com. As always, if you want to be permanently removed from this database, please just send a reply message making that request. I will be disappointed, but will certainly respect your wishes.

 

Whirlwind

My debut fantasy and sci-fi Novel has now been available for almost two weeks! That’s a milestone. I am working 27 hours a day and it’s just been a whirlwind. Time seems so be moving slower as I fill each day with myriad tasks to help ensure the Novel’s success. It seems that for every minor setback that occurs, other seeds that I have planted ripen to then bring a smile to my face. Of course, I am smiling regardless, as writing is a dream come true.

I am pleased to announce that the first professional review of the Novel (received just this week) was a total RAVE! Of course, it wasn’t from the NY Times, but it made my day nonetheless. Readers have also begun to send me thoughtful communications and I am thankful that so many have been super positive. Indeed, one of the most common asks is already weighing on my mind… “when is Book Two in the series going to be available?” Guess that’s a good problem to have on my plate. I have Book Two and Book Three fully outlined, and I have begun on the next chapters of Book Two. Still, with the marketing efforts swallowing my days right now, it’s hard to focus on the timeline for Book Two. There’s also a part of me that resists moving forward, as I want to experience as much as I can of this adventure. It’s a wild ride, the work never ends and I’m loving it.

http://www.SoulstealerWar.com

Fireside Fantasy Reading II – Soulstealer War

http://www.SoulstealerWar.com – Epic fantasy and sci-fi author W.L. Hoffman gives a fireside reading from his new book series of magic, metaphysics and dragons – The Soulstealer War.