Monday, October 28, 2013

BLOG TOUR: The Megalith Union by Brad A. LaMar INTERVIEW

The Megalith Union
Celtic Mythos
Book Two
by Brad A. LaMar

Illustrator: Igor Adasikov
Genre: Fantasy, Myth & Fairy Tale, Middle Grades / YA
Publisher: Light Messages Publishing
Date of Publication: October 24, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-61153-070-4 paperback
ISBN: 978-1-61153-071-1 ebook
Number of pages: 342
Word Count: 65,000
Cover Artist: Light Messages (design);
Igor Adasikov (artwork)

Book Description:

The fate of mankind teeters on the edge of the megalith union…

Just as life was returning to normal for Brendan as a college freshman, the hands of fate intervene and adventure besets him again in the second installment of the best-selling Celtic Mythos series.

Elathan, the golden god of Celtic lore, is reborn out of the ashes of a dead king and evil witch. Through Brendan and his family, Elathan maneuvers the tendrils of destiny, seeking to gain ultimate power at the expense of all humanity.

Dogged by giants, alphyns, and ruas Brendan, Dorian, Lizzie, and a new cast of characters risk it all to unravel the mystery of the ultimate foe.

With Corways under attack and Brendan’s father captured by a forgotten enemy, can Brendan and his allies prevent the end of days?

As the megalith union looms, Brendan and his friends must look to the past to prevent a future where Elathan reigns supreme.

If you liked Percy Jackson and the Olympians or Fablehaven, you won't want to miss The Megalith Union!

Can you please share with us a little about yourself?
- I am from Indianapolis, IN and have lived here my entire life.  I have just started my 15th year in education.  I taught science for 12 years and for the last 2 years I have been in charge of professional development and evaluation in my school.  I have two kids (Evan, 12 and Paige 10).  I am married to a high school science teacher who is wonderful and the most organized person I know.

Have you always wanted to be an author?
-I never considered being an author because it always being on TV or in movies to me.  It looked like something that a Midwestern kid wouldn’t ever be able to do.  Once I reached my mid-twenties and had a lot of encouragement from my students and parents, I began trying to get an agent and find a way to get published.

Can you share with us your typical writing day.  Is there anything you have to have while writing?
- The thing I have to have when writing is time.  I work a full-time job and have an active family, so putting together a productive hour of writing is what I try to do on a daily basis.  I sit at the kitchen table with my laptop, something to drink, and my notepad and try to develop my stories the best way that I can.
What would you say is the most challenging or rewarding part of writing?
- The most challenging and rewarding part of writing happens to deal with the same thing for me.  The most challenging part is crafting a complete, entertaining, and hopefully enticing story.  I find myself rereading previous chapters and parts continuously to make sure that I’m on my game in the current section that I’m writing.  I try my best to be consistent with tone, character personalities and speech and to stay on pace with my plan.  Now, that being said, once the book is written and edited and available to the readers, the rewarding part takes place.  I’m not really talking about reader responses either—though it’s nice when people like it—it’s the satisfaction that something that I have thought up and created is now a reality.

Can you please tell us about your latest book?
- The Megalith Union is the second book in the best selling YA fantasy series Celtic Mythos.  Here is the blurb:
Just as life was returning to normal for Brendan as a college freshman, the hands of fate intervene and adventure besets him again in the second installment of the Celtic Mythos series. The golden god of Celtic Lore, Elathan, reborn out of the ashes of a dead king and evil witch, maneuvers the tendrils of destiny, intending to gain ultimate power at the expense of all humanity. Dogged by giants, alphyns, and ruas Brendan, Dorian, Lizzie, and a new cast of characters risk it all to unravel the mystery of the ultimate foe. With Corways under attack and Brendan’s father captured by a forgotten enemy, can Brendan and his allies do enough to prevent the end of days? As the megalith union looms, Brendan and his friends must look to the past to prevent a future where Elathan reigns supreme.
The fate of mankind teeters on the edge of the megalith union…
How did you come with the idea for this story?
-I came up with the idea for The Megalith Union before I had even completed the first book in the series, The Obsidian Dagger.  I researched Celtic folklore, myths, and deities and found such a vast amount of resource material to pull from.  Usually all anyone ever hears about Ireland in today’s world is about leprechauns, so I wanted to write a contemporary story where I could showcase the rich mythology on a very creative people.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?
-I typically write several stories at a time.  I am working on a futuristic story called Henry Risen, a historical fiction piece titled American Pirate, but most of my focus is on the third Celtic Mythos book, The Dominion Pulse.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
- This is a loaded question because there are so many great storytellers and works out there.  I really like Larry Correria, A. Lee Martinez, and Greg Rucka.  I am also inspired by J.K. Rowling and Rick Riordan since they have had great success in the genre I write.

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?
-Your favorite authors become your favorite authors for a few reasons and writing style is one of those reasons.  I can appreciate how others write and craft a story, but I write with my own unique style and for me that’s the only way that I know I will be able to create the story the way I imagine it.

Open your book to a random page and please reads us a few lines.
-         I flipped open to page 217 and would be happy to share a little about one of the antagonist’s clan.
-                  The morning sky was laden with pink tones and scattered, billowy clouds.  It was oddly beautiful and serene—the exact opposite of the mood among the Descendants of Magog.
         The giants milled about in their valley village, which was tucked away from prying eyes and shaded by powerful spells to allow the brood privacy from a world gone mad.
What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
-The next book I will be reading (as soon as time permits) will be Monster Hunter Legion by Larry Correria.

Have you ever used anyone from your real life encounters in any of your books?
-The main characters from Celtic Mythos are loosely based on my kids.  I have used personality types of some people I know in my writing.  Sometimes I even tell them…

What was the most surprising thing you learned about yourself while you were writing?
-One of the most surprising things that I have learned about myself while writing is that I am a pretty organized thinker.  It has been quite an undertaking to piece together an entire series and make it all flow and make sense.  I found that I was able to do that and that’s a pretty good feeling.

The Obsidian Dagger (Celtic Mythos, Book 1)
was a #1 Contemporary Fantasy Best Seller on Amazon

Praise for The Obsidian Dagger:

"An excellent young reader fantasy novel! …There's a satisfying conclusion to the events of this book, but the witch is only the beginning, and LaMar hints at a more terrifying evil threatening to change the world as we know it.
I can't wait for more in this series!"
Tricia Lewis, Owner, Robots & Rogues Bookstore

“Hooks the reader right from the start... This is a must read!”
Wendy Eckstein, Middle School Teacher

“Brad LaMar hits a homerun with this exciting tale!”
Michelle Bridgewater Allee, Librarian

“A fun, exciting, fast paced adventure with a touch of humor.”
Michelle Parsons, Love2ReadAlways.blogspot.com
 
Brad A. LaMar is an author and educator who resides in the Indianapolis Metropolitan area. He has worked with middle school age students for fourteen years and loves the enthusiasm they can bring to learning. Sure, he enjoys long walks on the beach at sunset, but it’s hard to beat getting into a great story whether he’s writing it himself or enjoying the fruits of someone else’s imagination.


He is married to Lori, a beautiful and supportive woman, and together they’re raising Evan and Paige, two intelligent and wonderful children. He loves the way a story can make a reader think, laugh, react, and experience a wide range of emotions. Brad has tried to deliver those experiences in his best selling YA fantasy series, Celtic Mythos, and he is thrilled to be able to continue the adventure in The Megalith Union.

Brad’s imagination is bursting with stories and he can’t wait to share them with his readers. In fact, you can look for The Dominion Pulse, book three in the Celtic Mythos series, to be released soon.

Learn more about Brad and the bestselling Celtic Mythos series at...


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