New Blog, New Focus

I am moving to a new blog beginning tomorrow, January 5. The content will focus on writing, publishing, and reading, and it will also contain news about my career and publications as this blog has in the past.

I plan to be much more active on the new blog, so I hope you will join me there by following it and participating in the posts.

Here is the link - http://www.theauthorschair.com

Here is the first post, describing the content and purpose - http://theauthorschair.com/2015/01/02/purpose-and-schedule/

This will probably be my last post here. My thanks to all who have followed and read the content.

New Trailer for Reapers

Reapers Trailer - Wordless Version

Video Explaining Benefits of My Books for Young Readers

Get Books in Time for Christmas

Now is a good time to order books from me for Christmas. 

First, if you are in the U.S., your order will arrive in time for Christmas.

Second, since I am embarking on another tour leg this coming weekend, it would be great if I could ship orders out before I leave. I will still do so even while on tour, but it is more difficult then.

If you have any questions about ordering, please let me know. Here is the shopping link - http://www.daviscrossing.com/shopping.htm

Dragons of Starlight with Original Covers On Sale

Sale! All four Dragons of Starlight books in their original covers are only $20 plus shipping. http://www.daviscrossing.com/DoSOriginal.htm

Florida Speaking Event - Free and Open to Public

On Friday, December 12, at 7:00 pm, I will give a talk on writing and publishing at Barrel of Books and Games. 128 W. 4th Avenue, in Mount Dora, FL.

At this event, I will conduct a drawing to give away a copy of the pre-publication edition of Omega Dragon. You must be present to win. 

I hope to see you there!

Colorado Event Open to the Public - November 11

Announcement for Colorado event on November 11. I hope some of you can come.

For the rest of my fall tour schedule, see this link - http://www.daviscrossing.com/schedule.html

Fall 2014 Reapers Tour Schedule Update

General regions and date ranges for my fall Reapers tour so far:

Northern Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia - September 30 through October 10.

November 10 through 14 - Colorado (and places between Tennessee and Colorado)

November 17 through 21 - California (and places between Colorado and California as well as between California and Tennessee)

December 8 through 12 (or later) - Florida (and places between Tennessee and Florida)

If you have a school, homeschool group, or other group in those areas that would like a free author visit, please contact me by email - bryan (at) daviscrossing (dot) com

I have mid to late October, early November, and the first week in December open for other areas. so if you can help me get speaking events in an area you are interested in, please contact me.

Fall 2014 Author Tour

I am currently scheduling my fall tour. If you are interested in a free author visit to your school, homeschool group, or other group, or if you would like more information, please email me - bryan (at) daviscrossing (dot) com

I am featuring my book Reapers. In case you haven't see the trailer yet, here it is:

Reapers Contest Winners

The Reapers contest finished at the end of August.

Here are the winners:

Sword and sheath: Amelia McClew
(Honoring Delos McClew)

Reapers staff and cloak: Alahna Harrison
(Honoring Stanley Joe Harrison)

Other Winners:

The following receive their choice of a pre-release copy of Omega Dragon or any one of my other books

Benjamin Steward

Emmaline Kempf

Jessica Jones

Megan Soucie

Mikayla Buecher

Michael Esslinger

Samuel Brown

Keturah Goldsberry

Jupiter Winds by C. J. Darlington

My wife read this book and enjoyed it, so I thought I would pass along a link to it. I haven't read it myself, but since my wife likes it, that's a good endorsement -Click Here

Buy Reapers and Havok Magazine for Only $6

Until the end of July, you can order Reapers plus the digital version of Havok Magazine for only $6. This issue of the magazine features an all-new flash-fiction story that acts as a prologue for Reapers - http://www.daviscrossing.com/reapersorderh.html

New Reapers Story in Havok Magazine

I am featured in the current issue of Havok Magazine. In it, I have a flash fiction piece that works as a prologue to Reapers, a short story not available anywhere else.

You can browse the issue at the following link, but you can't get to the story unless you buy the digital version of the issue for $2.99 or the print version for $4.99 - Click Here.

Reapers Now on the Nook

Reapers is now available for the Nook for only $4.99 -http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reapers-bryan-davis/1119740233?ean=2940149690718

Reapers Now Available at Amazon Canada

Reapers is now listed at Amazon's Canada website - http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0989812219

At this moment, it is showing out of stock, but I know that copies are is heading their way, because I sent the books there myself. :-)

I hope my Canadian readers are able to get it soon.

Forever Faithful

Forever Faithful

An angel trusted me that day. She appeared at the church entry door—dressed in white, veiled in mystery. Her dazzling smile weakened my knees and sent my heart racing. The music began, and so did an everlasting dance with this gift from heaven.

As she walked down the aisle with her parents, every step brought a fresh reminder. This young woman was getting ready to sever a mooring line to a strong foundation, to leave the security of a loving home. Yet, she displayed no fear. Indeed, her face glowed with anticipation. An adventure awaited, and she trusted me. Yes, she trusted without reservation.

The minister said, “Who gives this woman?” and her parents released her to my hand. The line had been cut, and she moored her vessel to a new foundation—untested and uncertain. Yet, she trusted. She grasped my hand without hesitation.

When we spoke our vows, I told her that I would be faithful to her, forsaking all others, for as long as we both shall live. I told her that my promise would last till death do us part. And my heart raced again. Would she believe me?

Her eyes looked into mine, sparkling, happy, fearless. They said, “I trust you with all my heart.” Then she promised her love to me, repeating the words, for as long as we both shall live. She attached her hope, her safety, her future to me, till death do us part.

Who is this woman who would forsake her foundation and entrust so much to me? Who am I to make such promises when I don’t know what the next day will bring, much less what the years will hold? Is this promise of faithfulness a fool’s dream, a hopeful leap into darkness?

No. Fools dream of promises they cannot believe. Darkness is reserved for those who carry no light. If this trusting woman felt safety in latching on to me, I wasn’t about to shatter her trust … ever. Not even a shadow would pass across the light we both carried. Her trust in me would never waver. Nay, trust would be solidified daily—firmer, surer, stronger. I would continue speaking my vows with my actions, my resolve, and my devotion. I will be faithful till death do us part.

What kind of man would turn from his bride to another woman? A scoundrel? A villain? A fool? Yes, all of these. Yet, he is something worse. He is a traitor. He has set a blade to the mooring line. He has destroyed trust. He has betrayed his bride and undressed her in public. He has made her into a fool for trusting her life to a ruthless cad.

This world whispers into men’s ears that they are animals, wild and restless, unable to bind their hearts to one woman, to nestle their heads in one bosom and be satisfied there. As men follow senseless urges, the whispers become shouts, and the lies become truth in the shallow minds of fools who follow the crowds. And their wives weep. There is no pain greater than broken trust, no pill so bitter as betrayal. They have become widows in heart.

My dearest, I have not listened to the whispers. I have not believed the lies. I have spurned the crowds, and I am being faithful. Till death do us part. And your trust continues. Thank God, your trust continues. No shadow has ever come between us and never will.

The journey continues. Years pass. Decades come and go. Children grow into responsible adults. They leave home and begin journeys of their own. Experience crowns our heads with gray and etches wrinkles in our faces. Our joints creak, and our bodies bend. We become beautiful only in the eyes of each other, for the mirror cannot see our hearts. If it could, the mirror, mirror on the wall would say that yours is the fairest of them all.

As the journey winds toward the sunset horizon, our hands stay clasped, because we know this truth—together we are able to stand, to walk, to finish this course, God as our strength and provider. In this faith, we have never wavered, and in this faith, we will never stumble.

A day will come when another angel will call, a deathbed visitor. A weeping survivor will grasp the hand of a failing spouse, and a final kiss will mark the end of this magnificent covenant. And then your trust in me will be validated. Our vows will be confirmed. I will be able to say, “I have been faithful to you always. The line was never broken. Although death parts us for a time, you are my forever friend. Thank you for believing in me.”

Reapers Contest Begins Today

Reapers Contest - Summer 2014 (June 1 to August 31)

This contest is designed to promote Reapers, so the theme is remembering and honoring those who have passed from life to death and to resurrection.

The description is a bit complex, so please read carefully

To qualify for any part of this contest, the first step is to email me your name (or a pseudonym) to reaperscontest@daviscrossing.com. Include the following:

The name of a person who has passed away whom you would like to remember and honor. The person can be a relative, friend, military veteran, historical figure, or anyone else.

Also include whether or not I am allowed to publicly post the name of your honored person. This allowance is optional and will not affect your chances of winning.

Once I receive the entry, I will respond with a trivia question from Reapers. You will need to answer it correctly to complete your entry. A correct answer will put your name into the drawing for prizes. My goal is to send you your question within three days of receiving your entry.

Since the contest lasts three months, you will have plenty of time to read Reapers and answer the question. Feel free to look up the answer in the book.

From the pool of all entries, eight contestants will be chosen at random to win either (1) Their choice of any of my books, or (2) to be pre-publication readers for Omega Dragon. Those who choose #2 will receive an advance copy of Omega Dragon (date unknown), which they will get to keep. They will be asked to submit a short review statement that will be included in the front of the final version of the book, assuming that the publisher approves the statement as suitable for publication. One of these eight will also win the grand prize of this drawing, the sword and scabbard in the photo. This is not a new sword. I have used it in mock battles during my tours, so it has some flaws, but it still looks great.

Extra Prizes Entry Rules

To qualify for more prizes, include a description (Fewer than 1000 words) of the honored person and why you want to honor him or her.

Also include a photo of yourself posing next to a tombstone where your honored person is buried, OR a photo of yourself with the honored person when he or she was alive, OR any other photo of that person. If you want to send more than one of these photos, that is fine, but extra photos will not increase your chances of winning.

Please let me know if I am allowed to publicly post the photo(s) and/or descriptions. This allowance is optional and will not affect your chances of winning.

All entries, answered questions, and photos must be completed and sent to me by midnight August 31, 2014.

The extra prizes:

From the pool of those who submitted descriptions and photos of honored people, I will draw one person to win his or her choice of any of my books OR to be a pre-publication reader of Omega Dragon. Since the number of people in this extra pool will be smaller, those who participate will have a better chance of winning. These extra-entry contestants will also be including in the main drawing. The winner of this drawing will not be removed from consider for the cloak and staff.

I will also make a subjective evaluation of the descriptions and photos, and I will select the best entry to receive a Reapers cloak, such as you might have seen in our video trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcOhXXg1cMw), as well as a staff that can be used to battle against soul-stealing bandits. If you are never accosted by bandits, it will make a great hiking staff. That person will also win his or her choice of one of my books OR a spot as a pre-publication reader for Omega Dragon.

Above is a photo of the staff. It is 58 inches long, made of hickory, and feels quite solid. It is prepared as a hiking staff, but if you take off the rubber tip and leather strap, it could look like a battle staff.

I will contact winners by email during the first week in September. If the winners do not respond within five days, I will choose another person to replace that winner.

I reserve the right to add prizes along the way and to make necessary alterations and clarifications of the rules.

The contest will begin on June 1, 2014, and it is open to residents of all countries.

Order Reapers from the author - http://www.daviscrossing.com/ReapersOrder.html

Order Reapers from Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Reapers-Bryan-Davis/dp/0989812219

Order Reapers ebook from Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J3U3Q7C

Reapers Continues Getting Rave Reviews

Here is a new review of Reapers recently posted on Amazon:

Okay, so I know what some of you might be thinking. "Bryan Davis wrote a book about ghosts? What?!" First of all, it's never what you expect. Reapers is very different from Davis's other works (as those familiar with Dragons In Our Midst Or DIOM will know). It's hard to find a way to exactly describe Reapers. For those into the said "Christian Fantasy" genre, this book will definitely carry symbolic spiritual undertones, but it's not a book that is the stereotyped "Christian" fantasy. Readers of all sorts will find this story interesting.

I gave this book five stars because (in some ways) I've actually enjoyed this far more than any of Davis's previous books. It's much darker, grittier, and heavier than his lighter reads like DIOM. Yes, it's dark, but not gory, crude, or vulgar. Due to the amount of death and intensity of certain moments, I wouldn't recommend this for younger audiences. I would say fifteen is the average age of most of Davis's readers, but there are always much younger and older audiences, so Reader, please use your judgement, especially if you're buying this book for a young kid.

Okay, so now the plot: Without giving away any spoilers, the main story revolves around Phoenix, a teenage Reaper (someone who collects souls at the moment of death) and his Reaper friends Shanghai and Singapore. In this dystopian urban setting, a mysterious council type of government forces people with a special birthmark to enlist as soul reapers. It is a cruel government that doesn't just record deaths, they enforce them. Meaning harsh punishment, work camps, and even death for people caught smuggling medicine or rebelling against the system. Phoenix is a likable character who struggles with his duties, knowing that the government he works for is cruel, but seeing no way to resist and survive. His only option seems to be to finish as a reaper and make it back alive to his loved ones. Then, enter Singapore. She brings up questions about the Gateway (the mysterious place souls are said to be deposited) and involves Shanghai (an old comrade of Phoenix's) and Phoenix himself into an intriguing battle that forces Phoenix to place everything on the line.

As far as pros and cons go, I can't really think of anything I disliked about Reapers. I honestly loved and thoroughly enjoyed this story with it's climatic cliff-hanger ending. Unlike Davis's previous works where the writing can feel very prosy (especially with the dialogue) Reapers was much lighter on the prose. Don't get me wrong. Mr. Davis is a fantastic author, but I think that with Reapers, the fact that he used less prose and made the dialogue a little more down-to-earth really suited the style of this story and the world it takes place in. If there could be one con, I guess it could be the first person viewpoint. I personally liked Davis's first person viewpoint in Reapers (and I usually enjoy third person more) but I know there are some readers that don't particularly care for first person viewpoints.

If this were made into a movie, it would be a medium-heavy pg-13. I loved that about Reapers because the intensity and the dystopian world felt so real. It wasn't glazed over with rose-tinted views the way some authors are prone to write, and it wasn't so depressing and gory the way those on the opposite end of the spectrum are. I say read this book. Even if you've never read any of Davis's other works, read this one. It's absolutely worth every penny!

Link to review - http://www.amazon.com/review/R1WI1NAW21AXD4/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm

Order Reapers directly from me at this link - http://www.daviscrossing.com/ReapersOrder.html

Review of Reapers Plus a Contest

Here is a review of Reapers that includes a contest. Win a copy of Reapers plus coffee to drink while you're reading it - http://penguinsinpink.com/2014/05/19/review-of-reapers-by-bryan-davis-and-a-giveaway/

Photos from the Reapers Trailer

Here are a few still shots from the Reapers trailer. Enjoy.

Alex threatening Singapore

Alex letting Phoenix know who is boss

Alex and Molly

Shanghai reaching for a dagger

Phoenix and Singapore

Here is the link to the trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcOhXXg1cMw