Middle-grade Fantasy Adventure: The Baal of Shangisha by O. Mez

Blending atmospheric storytelling, African cultural echoes, and timeless themes, O. Mez delivers a powerful debut novel for young readers who believe that courage is not the absence of fear—but the decision to keep moving forward. How far would you go to save your world when everyone else has stopped believing?

The Baal of Shangisha
by O. Mez 
Genre: Middle-grade fantasy Adventure, fantasy
January 6, 2026
Publisher: MindStir Media
One boy. One impossible dream. One journey that could change his world forever.

When a mysterious force hurls young Chetanna into the home of an enigmatic old bird, he arrives carrying an extraordinary dream: to bring peace to the wicked and divided world around him.

Even Chetanna is unsure such peace is possible.

But when his mother tells him of a distant land of possibilities—a place where hidden answers may be found—Chetanna finally sees a path forward. As darkness spreads across the island he calls home, he begins a dangerous quest armed with only a slingshot, a mysterious name whispered by his mother, and the ancient power of the Eight.

Chetanna believes that courage, hope, and determination will be enough to complete his mission.

He is wrong.

Halfway through the journey, betrayal changes everything. The companions he trusted most abandon him, convinced that the quest is doomed. Left for dead and stranded in an unforgiving wilderness, Chetanna loses nearly everything he depended upon.

He should turn back.

He should surrender.

Instead, he holds tightly to the one thing no enemy can take from him: his dream of creating a better world.

Driven by resilience, courage, kindness, and an unshakable belief in what might still be possible, Chetanna presses forward. But when he finally reaches the legendary land he has risked everything to find, a devastating truth awaits—one powerful enough to destroy his mission and shatter everything he believes.

The Baal of Shangisha is a lyrical middle-grade fantasy adventure filled with mystery, ancient power, dangerous choices, unexpected betrayal, and unforgettable lessons about hope, sacrifice, selflessness, and perseverance.

Perfect for readers who enjoy:

• Courageous young heroes and epic quests
• Magical lands inspired by rich cultural traditions
• Fantasy adventures filled with danger and discovery
• Stories about friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness
• Meaningful lessons about resilience, love, kindness, and hope
• Young characters who discover that even the smallest voice can inspire extraordinary change

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About the Author
O. Mez is a Nigerian-born author whose storytelling is shaped by the rich oral traditions, cultural rhythms, and imaginative tales that surrounded him while growing up. Inspired by stories passed down through generations, he writes lyrical, atmospheric fantasy that explores courage, resilience, hope, and the quiet strength of those who dare to believe in a better world.

Now based in Colorado, Mez brings together African cultural echoes, timeless life lessons, and immersive fantasy adventure to create meaningful stories for young readers. His debut middle-grade fantasy novel, The Baal of Shangisha, follows a young hero on a dangerous quest filled with mystery, betrayal, ancient power, and the unshakable determination to change his world.

Through his writing, Mez hopes to encourage children to embrace kindness, perseverance, selflessness, and the belief that even the smallest voice can make a lasting difference.

When he is not writing, he enjoys watching football, spending time with his wife and daughters, and reading stories about forgotten lands, brave souls, and extraordinary journeys.

Excerpt: Dragons of Mu by Pamela Ackerson + giveaway

The Eternals, a non-magical woman as the Chosen One, Marfóir, and her best friend join in the battle to slay the most evil dragon on earth who’s plan is to take over the world.

Dragons of Mu
by Pamela Ackerson
Genre: Epic Fantasy Adventure
Drakine is rising. The only hope is the hero no one expected.

One non-magical woman is the Chosen One. Destiny won’t wait. With her fiercely loyal friend, Lottie, by her side, and Blaze’s army behind her, Amy is thrust into a war against the most evil dragon ever to preside over the dragon realm on the Island of Mu. A creature whose heinous ambition is nothing less than total annihilation of the mortal world and complete global domination.

To survive, they must fight the ancient powers and unite the fractured kingdoms. The Island of Mu is burning… and only she can turn the tide. Grab your copy today.

**Releases June 26th - PreOrder Now for Only .99cents!**
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She rubbed the back of her head, felt a small lump, and winced. Her head was throbbing. Her knee was yelling at her and now she heard angry, men’s voices.

One of them yelled, “Over there! There she is. Get her!”

Another pulled out a long knife and they ran toward her.

Amy rushed into the woods. Turning around, she could see they were catching up to her.

Up, Amy, up. They won’t be looking up.

She climbed an oak tree as high as she could. Pulling on the long skirt, she squatted on a branch.

The branch felt odd and slithered underneath her. A large, looming face in the shape of a dragon stared at her unblinking.

Holy cr—

The creature put a long claw to its mouth and said, “Shhh.”

Amy took a deep breath. A scream was building inside her but before she could release the ear-piercing screech, she was muzzled by the creature. Her heart jolted as its wing enveloped her and she lost consciousness.

A few moments later, she was gulping for air. Fully expecting to open her eyes and see the hotel lobby, she was stunned to be staring into the eyes of a dragon.

–A dragon, a huge dragon with big, green eyes.

You’re safe.

Amy shook her head. “No. No, I’m not. There’s no okay in this, whatever this is at all. This is crazy. Why is this happening?”

Where did you come from?

She stared at his mouth. It wasn’t moving.

This hallucination was freaking weird. A talking dragon that didn’t move his lips. They’re going to take her away and leave her in the psych ward for the rest of her life.

Her eye began twitching. It wasn’t real. None of it makes sense.

Think, Amy. Dragons aren’t real. How could a dragon talk?

Anything can happen in a hallucination. She repeated to herself. This isn’t real.

Was she dead? Is this purgatory? Her own personal nightmare of an afterlife? Could she have injured herself so badly that she died?

She wasn’t a bad person. It certainly wasn’t in Hades. Well, it better not be Hades.

A talking, psychic dragon communicating with his mind.

Of course, it makes soooo much more sense.

She watched as the men ran into the woods, searching for her.

The dragon spoke in a deep, soothing voice, “Why are you dressed in that garb?”

Amy stared at the huge beast.

The beast’s green eyes penetrated her with a questioning glare.

“A— a party. We were going to a party.”

He looked at the bracelet.

“Someone put them in my shopping bag.”

“Let’s go. We need to get you into normal clothing. I’ll take you to Bev’s.”

Amy started climbing down the tree.

“No, no.” The dragon grabbed her and placed Amy on his back before taking flight.

Amy squealed, inhaled and released another louder scream.

“Stop.” His body jolted. “Your obnoxious squawking is impaling my ears.”

Within a few moments, they soared through the air and flew from cloud to cloud.

Her stomach flipped and she swallowed the huge lump in her throat.

“Ugh, no ups and downs, please.”

He laughed. “No quick drops? You’re the slow-boat kind of person.”

Her heart was finally returning to its normal beat. She was getting comfortable riding on his back and was beginning to enjoy the view.

“Whoa! This is awesome. I never have flying dreams.”

The dragon huffed.

Amy was mesmerized. It was freaking fantastic. The warm heat from the sun and soft air on her face, the flapping of his wings, it was glorious.

She could do this. It was peaceful. He was gliding along and she was euphoric.

Hold on.

“Hold on? No, don’t ruin the moment!”

The dragon took a deep dive. Amy let out an earsplitting shriek and gripped the back of his neck tighter as he gracefully landed on the ground in front of a small, wooden cabin.

He grunted in pain.

“Your fingernails are cutting into my skin.”

“Sorry.” Amy dismounted him like she would a horse.

“You don’t look like you’re sorry.”

She gave him an angry side-eye.

He grumbled, “Go. Tell her I sent you.”

“Um. You want me to knock on a stranger’s door, in the middle of BFE, and tell her a dragon sent me?”

“We’re not in Egypt.”

She snapped, “What? We’re in the middle of freaking nowhere. That’s what BFE means!”

Ignoring her irritation, he responded, “We’re in Ireland.”

“Ireland? I’ve never been to Ireland. How am I dreaming that I’m here? I’ve only seen pictures and this in not anything like the pictures.”

“It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not fine. I don’t have a passport with me!”

She rubbed her forehead. Why would she need a passport in a dream?

“No worries.” He blew out a frustrated breath. “I’ll be back in a blink. In the meantime, tell her Blaze sent you.”

“Oh, look. A fairy circle.”

His wide-eyed, incredulous stare gave her pause. He shook his head. “Wow.”

She shrugged.

“I can’t keep up with you.”

“Yeah, I get that a lot. My mind goes really fast sometimes.” She limped toward the fairy circle.

“What are you doing?”

Amy chuckled. “Making a wish.”

He looked at her like she was growing horns.

“Um, yeah. Make a wish and the fairies will grant it only if they see fit. You have to watch out for all the fairies protecting the fairy circle. You don’t want to step on them, you know.”

Amy stepped back from the circle. “Hello, little fairies. I hope you’re having a pleasant day.”

He harrumphed and walked away.

“Hey, it’s my dream. I can do what I want.”

Amy raised her hand to knock, but never made contact. An elderly woman, in her mid-seventies, opened the door.

“Oh, I thought I heard Blaze’s voice.”

“I’m Amy. He told me to tell you—”

The woman opened the door wider. “Come in. The sun’s going to be setting soon and it’ll be a bit chilly.”

The elderly woman had light hair, dark blue eyes, and a wide, pleasant smile. Her hair was rolled up into a bun tucked on the back of her head. Amy’s memories immediately went to the cartoon with the grandma lady who owned the canary, Tweety.

Amy cautiously entered the house and as she turned to look about, a man rushed through the doorway.

He was an average-looking man except for his eyes. They gleamed an effervescent green. The man’s dark hair was a deep contrast to his light skin.

She never cared for the five o’clock shadow but it did do him justice.

“There you are, Blaze.” She handed him a mug.

“Thank you, Bev.”

“Mark on his way?”

“Soon. He has a few things he needs to take care of before he comes.”

Mark? As in Harlow?

Bev turned to Amy. “What would you like, dear? I’ve got some hot tea on the table or, if it pleases, I can pour another draught.”

“T—”

“She needs normal clothes.”

Amy glared at Blaze. “And who are you?”

“I’m the man who saved your skinny bum and brought you here.”

“And how, pray tell, did you do that? A dragon…” Her voice trailed off.

Bev looked puzzled. “So, she’s not from medieval times?”

“No.”

“She didn’t time-travel here?”

“No.”

Time travel? Amy interrupted, “I can speak for myself.”

“Really?” He snorted. “Go ahead, darling, and explain how you got here.”

“Fine. I was at a party.” Amy flipped her hand in the air. “I tucked the jeweled comb in my wig and the next thing I knew, these men attacked me and I’ve been having this dream or possibly been unconscious ever since.”

Blaze sat at the table. “You’re not unconscious.”

“Then you tell me what’s happening.”

Bev took her arm. “Oh, sweetie, it’s been a day for you, hasn’t it? Sit, relax, and have a cuppa. I’ll get you some clothes that should fit you. We’ll get you all sorted out.”

The concern in Bev’s voice was telling.

Wariness clung to Amy as a hesitant smile tugged at her lips, a stark contrast to how she was feeling.

“I don’t need clothes. I just want to wake up.”

Bev asked, “Wake up?”

Blaze waved Bev’s question off and spoke to Amy, “Somehow, you’ve managed to get two very powerful and magical relics to bring you here. People have gone to war to possess the magical comb and bracelet.”

Amy grunted.

“Those men stole the relics to take over Mu and conquer the magical world. They will not hesitate to kill you for them.”

Amy bit her upper lip, repressing a nervous giggle. “Not ruby-red slippers? Will lightning flash from the jewelry when you try to remove it from my hair and wrist? Do I repeat ‘there’s no place like home’ three times?”

Blaze glowered. “I don’t find your sarcasm amusing.”

She removed the jeweled comb and handed it to Blaze. “Here. Take it.”

Bev glared at Blaze and tapped Amy’s hand. “Blaze can get you back to where you belong and to your party whenever you’re ready.”

“Good.” Amy put her wrist toward Blaze. “I’m more than ready.”

Blaze reached to take the bracelet off her wrist. “It won’t come off.”

Bev put her hand to her chest. “What?”

Amy’s voice shook in panic. “No, no, take it off!”

“It won’t come off.”

“Fine, then I’ll do it.”

She fiddled with the clasp and finally threw up her hands in frustration. “It won’t come off!”

Bev walked over to the cabinet and brought back a bottle of Irish whiskey and three glasses, and said, “It has begun.”

About theAuthor:

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Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Wall Street Journal bestselling, award-winning author, Pamela Ackerson is a time traveling adventurer. She was born and raised in Newport, RI where history is a way of life. She lives on the Space Coast of Florida where everyone is encouraged to reach for the stars!

Her literary journey is as diverse and adventurous as the time-traveling escapades she writes about. With a rich tapestry of genres at her fingertips, she weaves stories that span from the wild frontiers of the Old West to the intricate cultural tapestries of Native American history. Her work doesn't stop at fiction; she delves into the realms of history, self-help, and even marketing, showcasing a versatility that resonates with a wide audience.

Ackerson's presence on the Space Coast of Florida reflects her forward-thinking approach to writing, always aiming for the next big leap in her storytelling odyssey. Her prolific output is a testament to her dedication to her craft, inviting readers to join her in exploring the vast landscapes of human experience and imagination.

Honest reviews of Pamela's books are always appreciated.

Absolutely no AI programs were used to create any story she has written.

Thank you and have a good moments day.

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Enter the Dragons of Mu Giveaway Here

Excerpt: Land of Two Moons by D.L. Gardner + giveaway

Where were you born/grew up?
I was born in Lakewood, Ohio in 1949. I remember the swans at Euclid Beach, the Steeplechase Carousel and walking in the beautiful park. I had a boyfriend in Cleveland when I was five, and we used to watch bugs on the sidewalk together.

My family moved to California in 1955. Back then California was wide open, still had movie sets that you could visit where actors would have gunfights in the streets. I was there for the opening week of Disneyland and helped Walt Disney conduct his orchestra on Main Street. He even gave me his conductor’s baton as a souvenir. I wish I had kept that. You don’t think you’re going to grow old when you’re a child and that those kinds of things would mean more than face value in the future.

Other things I should have kept?
• My Barbie dolls. My dad worked for Mattel Toy Company on Rosecrans in CA, and I had the very first Barbies that they ever made. I also had holsters and cap guns from back in the 50s too. We’d play Rawhide. Clint Eastwood was my idol.

• All the real silver dollars that my folks brought back from Las Vegas when slot machines spat out genuine money.

• My Ginny dolls and all the doll clothes my aunt made for me and my sister by hand.

• My horse statue collection.

I grew up in Southern California. When I was a teen my friend who had her own Mustang convertible, would pick up a bunch of us girls, and we’d cruise Hollywood on warm summer evenings, keeping our eyes out for celebrities. We thought we saw Donovan once.

We’d also cruise 101 along the coast and ride as far as Malibu all the while checking out the surfers, the Beach Boys playing loud and us singing along!

Other friends would have hootenannies. I had a banjo and my best friend played guitar, and we’d join other folks, maybe twenty sometimes, in different people’s homes and sing all the songs. You know, Dylan, Joan Baez, the Kingston Trio, Mamas and the Papas, Peter, Paul and Mary.

Those were high school years that soon got interrupted by the Vietnam War, and sadly most of the guys in our class and the class before us got drafted. Many never returned.

When it was time to apply for college, I applied to out-of-state colleges and got accepted into Northern University. From there, I lived twenty years in Arizona, in places like Cottonwood, Jerome, Clear Creek and Winslow. Those back to the earth experiences inspire some of the situations my characters in my books experience. Eventually I moved to the Pacific Northwest, (Washington state), where I live to this day and spend my time writing.

Did I get sidetracked?

Political unrest, war over valuable mines, forbidden love, and a homesick dragon bound in chains threaten the land of two moons.

Land of Two Moons
by D.L. Gardner
Genre: YA Epic SciFi Fantasy Adventure

"The gritty reality of trench warfare and the smoky chaos of riots is striking in D. L. Gardner's Land of Two Moons...a rich and ambitious fantasy novel that successfully builds a world trembling on the brink of magical and political upheaval. This is a delicate, intricate novel that rewards patient reading." - Independent Book Review

Arthur and Hallie are twin siblings, son and daughter of the Duke of Lodesmoor. Humble teenagers who befriend the village people and sympathize with their grievances. Their father, Lord Balmier, whose duchy is approaching financial collapse, uses his subjects as pawns in a battle over a string of valuable mines.

Lord Balmier sees his son's sympathy toward the serfs as an alliance against him and soon acts to squelch Arthur's sedition.

Hallie clings to a forbidden love, and both siblings must resist their father's harsh rule.

All the while they are unaware that their mother keeps a mystical dragon named Killian, bound in chains by a spell, whose fate will affect them all.

As the twin moons approach a rare and magical eclipse, alliances shift, secrets unravel, and Arthur and Hallie must choose between loyalty, freedom, and sacrifice to save their people and themselves. 

“With strong pacing and a cast of memorable characters – including a homesick dragon, this is the perfect book for fans of the ‘fantasy’ genre. Highly recommended!” - The Wishing Shelf

***Check out the kickstarter campaign!**

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Land of Two Moons will be a limited edition leather hardcover signed and numbered, a special edition case laminate hardcover, an eBook, and a paperback with printed edges. A rigid slip case is available for the hardcovers.

***Check out the kickstarter campaign!**

 

Prologue
Pattin didn’t know what they were fighting for. All he knew was that when their commander yelled the order he was to let loose his arrows toward another trench opposite theirs somewhere in the Red Sands desert. Rumor was they were fighting over mines, dukes, power, and money. Nothing he’d ever be privy to. It didn’t matter. He was here because he’d been conscripted.

He'd been in this trench for nine days straight. Hot, drenched in sweat, sick to his stomach, and with little to eat or drink. Tired of swatting flies and stepping over the bodies of his comrades, he was ready to leave. No one wanted to be here, especially not the lads from Bidsworth, and especially not on the front lines.

He spat the dust out of his mouth and bit another piece of jerky.

“When is she going to come for us?” he asked his friend.

“Tonight, they said. Maybe,” Ivan whispered.

“What do you mean, maybe? She promised.”

“She can only take five at a time.”

“Bloody Marks, she’s been here every night for a week. What’s she going to do, get everyone but us? The more people who leave, the less chance of survival for those who stay. I’m too young to die in this rat hole.”

Ivan shrugged—a hint that he wasn’t happy about the situation either.

“We could try and make a run for it on our own,” Pattin whispered, his lips barely moving, glancing around the desolate countryside.

Over the sand, the heat waves danced, crafting a mirage of water, a deceptive illusion that only a fool would pursue. Bait for the enemy. Pattin licked his lips, wishing for a drink of cool water from the springs in Bidsworth, his homeland, a wealthy duchy whose stone structures mirrored the color of the red earth. Here in the wasteland, iron ore poisoned the vegetation, and there was nothing but dust as far as the horizon. The soldiers hated this place, and rumors of desertion were burning the ears of the agents at base. The officers were watching the troops like hawks.

“Fool. We’d have bolts in our backs, dead. Is that what you want? If I’m going to desert, I’m doing it with Kezia.” Ivan wiped the sweat from his brow; his face caked with red earth. Even his eyelashes were laden with dirt.

“What makes her so special that she can get us out with no one noticing?”

Ivan snickered and glared at him. “She’s the duke’s daughter, remember? Plus, she’s smart, crafty, and wicked.”

“Duke sabotages his own army through his daughter!” Pattin mumbled.

“Stop complaining or she’ll never come and get you.”

Pattin wiped his brow, his mouth fixed in a frown. She might not come for him at all. It’s everyone else’s luck to be saved by a duchess.

"Heads up!" The dreaded warning arrived just as a flurry of bolts blotted out the sun.

Pattin covered his head with his shield. Ivan lifted his own targe to cover his body while the plummeting projectiles thundered on it.

“Move!” came the command.

Like a terrified beetle, Pattin crouched on the ground and joined the others, locking his shield with Ivan’s as the company crawled through the trench, hands and knees bleeding, while avoiding the corpses of friends who didn’t survive. Away from the onslaught they moved, abandoning their supplies. Someone would be sent back for them when the sun settled on the horizon and the two moons rose.

Soon everyone here would have to leave the trenches and charge at the enemy. That was a standard maneuver, and it was just a matter of time. Hand to hand combat would kill him, Pattin was certain. With practiced ease, he could loose an arrow, always striking the mark. But his end would come by the cold steel of a sword. He hoped it would be tomorrow. He wasn’t ready to die today.

Maybe Kezia would draw his name and come for him tonight. Maybe he would live through this bloody war, after all.

About the Author:
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D.L. Gardner is an award-winning author, artist, filmmaker, and screenwriter with over 28 published works to her credit. Writing and painting are her passions and fantasy her forte. When she's not pounding keys on the computer, she's canning salsa, picking apples, listening to the voices of critters in the woods, or watching flowers grow. She loves visiting far-off lands through books by both reading and writing.

Her genres include all fantasy, historical, and mystery.

Get to know D.L. through her websites and blogs or send her a message her on Kickstarter.

Currently a FINALIST (2025 March) in the Cannes World Wide Film Festival for her screen adaption of her book An Unconventional Mr. Peadlebody.

Other awards include Wishing Shelf book Award 2023 for audio, B.R.A.G. Award 2022 for the Cho Nisi series, Book Excellence Award 2019 and 2015 for Ian's Realm and Cassandra's Castle. Best Screenplay adaptation from her book Dylan at the Paris Screenplay Awards, Mile Hill International Screenplay Awards, L.A. Edge Awards, European Cinematography Awards, and Moondance Film Festival. Best Screenplay Award for adaptation from her book An Unconventional Mr. Peadlebody at Veers Film Festival, Best Screenplay Award for adaptation of Ian's Realm at the Twin Falls Sandwiches Film Festival and many more.

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a $20 giveaway!
Enter the Land of Two Moons Giveaway Here

5 Sheep Comic Review: The Loose End by Dave Dwonch (from Titan Comics)

"The award-winning imprint Hard Case Crime presents a wacky story of guns, ganja and gambling from writer Dave Dwonch artist Travis Hymel."

 

Remember to  Support your local comic book store
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The Loose End
by Dave Dwonch
Illustrated by Travis Hymel
Publisher: Titan Books (US, CA), 2025
ISBN 1787746445, 9781787746442
Length 112 pages
Genre: Crime & Mystery, Action & Adventure
Steven Hollis is a mild-mannered scriptwriter with a love for risk and reward. When he gambles his way into debt, the Mob offer him a one-way ticket from under their thumb. All he has to do is kill the biggest Hollywood executive in the industry…

However, plans derail when a trip to Mexico City turns sour. A drug deal gone wrong sets the cartel on the hunt for a rag-tag group of actors, writers and executives as they have a no-holds-barred standoff!

If you’re a fan of cinema classics and a totally balls-to-the-wall action adventure, this is the book for you!

The Loose End graphic novel collects The Loose End issues #1-4.

Gonna start off with what I say in EVERY Dave Dwonch graphic novel review: Dave is talented, skilled and one of my favorite writers. I have never been disappointed with his storytelling.

My review of The Loose End could double as a movie review; reading it felt like watching an action release. I agree with the comparison to a Quentin Tarantino action movie script, but I'd like to add that it has Pulp Fiction humor. 

The Loose End covers all the action movie tropes. It even starts out with a car chase and the master-level use of the movie plot flashback technique (ex., Two days ago..., Two hours later...) to keep the story moving at warp speed to the end. Pulled into the story/action from the beginning, I couldn't put it down till I finished. And like all great stories, there are a couple of plot twists.

Big shout out to the artist. His style, panel compositions and the use of multiple color pallets to set the mood for each scene. 

The Loose End is an exciting adventure from start to finish, so buckle up, Buttercup!

Warp Speed Uss Enterprise GIFfrom Warp Speed GIFs

5 "Blink 182 thing" Sheep

 

SharonS

About the Author:
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Dave Dwonch has been a comics writer and artist for nearly two decades, penning titles like Jenny Zero (Dark Horse), Vamplets (Scholastic), as well as The Automaton and the Cyrus Perkins series under his Hellbrain imprint. Most recently he collaborated with Travis Hymel on The Loose End for Titan's Hard Case Crime line to rave reviews. He's also worked as a letterer and editor, most notably for the Eisner nominated series, Princeless.

About the Artist:
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Travis Hymel is an artist and illustrator living in Colorado. He has worked for clients such as Oni Press, Dark Horse Comics, IDW, Titan Comics, Devil's Due comics, and Action Lab Entertainment.

Check out Titan Comics 

 

Excerpt: The Quest for Freedom (The Conquest Trilogy Book 1) by Matthew Devitt + giveaway

One man against the world

 

The Quest for Freedom (The Conquest Trilogy Book 1)
by Matthew Devitt
Oct 17, 2025
Genre: Dark Epic Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Affer was once a peaceful planet, until a war broke out between its six inhabiting species. The humans, who were once the mightiest force on Affer, were massacred in droves, and the ones who survived the onslaught were reduced to mere slaves. The five other species divided the humans amongst themselves and returned to their respective kingdoms.

The years passed, turning into decades and centuries, without any change. Eventually, the humans had accepted their fate as slaves. All except one. Four hundred and seventy-three years later, Fletcher Rush starts his journey to free his kind...and conquer the planet. 

**Use the code “silver” for $3 off the paperback at The Author’s Website!**

 

**Only .99 cents!**
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Excerpt:
"Death is a part of freedom. Blood will be spilled whether we fight this war or stand down and stay as slaves. I'm trying to put humans back at the top where we belong. It's all I've ever thought about…freedom and victory. My only purpose in life is to rectify the disposition of this damn world, and I'll do whatever it takes to do that." - Fletcher Rush

“They should be here any minute,” Fletcher muttered.

They’d managed to take care of all the preparations Fletcher had planned, and now he was standing on the city wall by the main gate along with Ji.

“I’m surprised we finished everything,” Ji said, glancing across the field in front of them.

“Me too,” Fletcher admitted. “I think we have a good chance to win this fight.”

“We either win or we die,” Ji said, shuddering after he said it out loud.

“Or they capture us and enslave or torture us.”

“Not helping.”

“Just fight like your life depends on it, because it kind of does,” Fletcher said, casting his gaze out to the path.

“What if they don’t come?” Ji asked.

“Trust me, they’ll come. I might not have confirmation, but based off what that elf said, and Light’s temper, I would bet my life on them attacking.”

The two didn't say anything after that; instead, they just kept watch. The light breeze swayed the leaves and small branches of the many trees that dotted their vision. It had grown quite dark and was hard to see, but Fletcher and Ji still saw the dirt kicking up from the large convoy of vehicles headed toward them.

“Looks like that’s the elves,” Ji said, pulling out an arrow and notching it in his crossbow.

“This should be fun,” Fletcher said, taking the remote control from his pocket and getting ready to use it.

The vehicles got closer and the two saw truck after truck approach, stretching out as far as they could see, each of them packed with bloodthirsty elves.

“Hey, Ji, no matter the outcome of the battle, I just want to say thanks. I wouldn’t be here today without your help,” Fletcher said, turning to his friend.

“Don’t be getting sappy on me now, man,” Ji said, giving Fletcher a light shove. “But seriously, I feel the same… Thanks, Fletcher.”

The car in the lead started closing in and the two of them saw it had a large metal ram built on the front of it.

"Fuck, I think they're going to ram into the gate," Fletcher said, turning to the inside of the city where two dozen soldiers were waiting. "GET READY FOR THE FIRST TRUCK, AND DON'T LIGHT THE OIL UNTIL I GIVE THE ORDER!"

Fletcher turned back to look at the approaching army just before the truck slammed into the main gate. The gate exploded, sending splinters of wood flying in every direction and shaking the strong stone walls.

“Damn—” Fletcher said, getting thrown to the ground by the impact. He got up and looked at the inside of the city. Elves were already rushing out of the vehicle, drawing their weapons before advancing forward.

"I'LL HEAD DOWN!" Ji shouted, shooting off an arrow before he dropped the crossbow and ran down the stairs.

Fletcher turned his attention back toward the convoy that was approaching very fast.

“Wait…” Fletcher softly muttered to himself, his finger resting on the trigger to the makeshift bombs.

The sound of the engines grew louder as the cars neared the city, none of them slowing down in the slightest.

Just a bit more…

“SEE YOU, MOTHERFUCKERS!” Fletcher shouted as he pressed the button, causing the bombs to go off.

The ground ripped apart as the explosions detonated, making contact with the trucks milliseconds later and blowing them to hell.

A fire quickly took over the front lawn of the city as the explosions mixed with the gasoline in the vehicles’ fuel tanks. Over two dozen trucks were obliterated, another five had caught on fire, and the pathway had been completely destroyed. The cars that weren't affected by the blast stopped in their tracks, and the one in the front got rear-ended after stopping so fast, making Fletcher smile.

About the Author:

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I've always had a love for fantasy, and to this day LOTR and The Inheritance Cycle remain some of my favorite books. There are limitless possibilities when you're writing, but with fantasy, it's different. You don't have to adhere to rules or logic; you can create whatever type of world you want. Characters can live in a dystopian society, a grand futuristic city, a picture-perfect world, or a medieval wasteland. Time, technology, and magic are all there for the taking, and as a writer, you get to choose what defines your story.

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Excerpt: Doomsday Planet by William Burke

The world’s richest man just made a killer deal with an alien species; he sold them the human race! Now four warriors from Earth’s past must battle to save its future on… THE DOOMSDAY PLANET.

 

Doomsday Planet
by William Burke
July 12, 2025
Sci-Fi / Action - Adventure
Publisher: Severed Press
The world’s richest man just made a killer deal with an alien species; he’s sold them the human race!

Astronaut Marcus Reno dies in a lunar accident, only to be resurrected by a race of benevolent time travelers to command a regiment of warriors plucked from Earth’s past. Their mission: save humanity from an invasion by the Zagan—tyrannical aliens working in cahoots with Earth’s richest man, who’s eager to leap from oligarch to god.

With doomsday imminent, Reno leaps into battle with only a band of Viking berserkers, and a tenacious WW2 Soviet aviatrix at his side. Together they must assault a Zagan base hidden on a prehistoric, dinosaur-infested planet.

Between the Zagans’ guns and the dinosaurs’ jaws, their chances are slim . . . but is it still a suicide mission when, technically, they’re already dead?

“Doomsday Planet is part military thriller, part time-travel epic, and all-out action. Melds gallows humor, speculative madness, and cinematic pacing into a genre fusing space adventure. Beneath the chaos is a meditation on sacrifice, and the costs of playing god.” The Prairies Book Review

Amazon

 

Excerpt
Chapter One
January 10th, 2036
The Moon
Astronaut Marcus Reno maneuvered the cargo shuttle Brier Creek into low lunar orbit, twenty kilometers above the scarred palette of grays and blacks Buzz Aldrin once described as “magnificent desolation.”

Reno vividly recalled his time on the lunar surface, where the daytime temperature hit two hundred degrees while the nights were colder than the Antarctic. The surface was constantly bombarded by cancerous solar radiation along with micrometeorites raining down at nine hundred miles an hour. Even the lunar dust was jagged enough to slash human lungs to ribbons. The moon was a vindictive mistress, and that’s why Reno loved it.

“Did you miss me, darling? I’m back.”

Two seconds later, a voice came over the radio. “Brier Creek, this is CAPCOM; we didn’t copy your last transmission. Please repeat.”

Reno realized his radio had been keyed and said, “CAPCOM, this is Brier Creek. I said, Passing Gateway Station in preparation for landing at Athena Mining Base. Telemetry is good, all systems green.”

After the two-second Earth-to-moon radio delay, CAPCOM came back with, “Copy. That’s what we thought you said … darling.”

Reno chuckled at the ribbing, but his smile faded as the flashing red beacon of NASA’s orbiting Gateway Station grew closer. Seeing Gateway’s sweeping dragonfly-winged solar array always stirred up unwelcome memories of his time commanding the International Space Station.

He muttered, “Quit living in the past. You’ve got a job to do.”

Being a NASA project, Gateway Station was staffed by eight mission specialists, a far cry from Reno’s lonely vigil as a corporate astronaut for Visser Aerospace. He’d spent the past nine months alone aboard the Brier Creek, shuttling equipment from Earth-orbiting cargo vessels to the lunar mining installation Athena Station. Upon landing, his cargo would be swapped out for canisters of mined Helium 3, which he’d deliver back to Earth’s orbit before doing another run. Today marked his thirtieth round trip in nine months.

But months of splendid isolation piloting a spacecraft made of glorified tin foil suited Reno’s nature. Some would have called him a misanthrope, but he preferred to think of himself as an eccentric recluse, like Howard Hughes … or the Unabomber.

The radio beeped to life. “Brier Creek, this is CAPCOM; sorry to add to your to-do list, but on your way back to Earth, corporate needs you to deorbit a dead weather satellite so it’ll burn up over the Pacific.”

Reno groaned at this addition to his ever-expanding mission duties. Most were outside his job description and dangerous to boot. “Copy that, CAPCOM. Hugo Visser sure knows how to squeeze his money’s worth out of an astronaut.”

Reno’s boss, Hugo Visser, was the world’s wealthiest entrepreneur and the godfather of renewable energy and space travel. He aimed to send humanity to the stars while working his astronauts to the bone.

CAPCOM said, “Reno, it’s not all bad news. We wanted to be the first to congratulate you on just breaking the world’s record for cumulative solo time in space.”

Reno replied, “I thought that cosmonaut, what’s his name, Oleg Beroz … something, held that record.”

“You mean Oleg Berezovoy? He retired two years back then died a couple of months ago.”

“Oh. Well, thanks for letting me know. Couldn’t have done it without you guys.”

He shut off his mic and took a long, deep breath. At age sixty-three, Marcus Reno, or just Reno to those he tolerated, didn’t need more reminders of his mortality. He was either one of space exploration’s pioneers or an outdated relic, depending on whom you asked. But even his critics couldn’t deny he was a steady hand who’d done it all. Most of it twice. But despite being one of only fifty astronauts to walk on the moon and holding plenty of other records, his name had become synonymous with the International Space Station incident.

CAPCOM radioed, “Brier Creek, switch over to private comm channel.”

The private channel was reserved for astronauts to communicate with wives and loved ones. It took Reno a moment to remember what channel it was, which spoke volumes about his personal life. He switched over.

The comlink beeped and came to life. “Reno, this is Dr. Majors, company flight surgeon.”

Reno groaned. During his time in the military, NASA, and now in the private sector he’d never met a flight surgeon with good news.

“What’s up, Doc?”

“I just wanted to let you know your medical tests came back fine. Actually, it’s better than fine. There’s been zero loss of bone density and your spinal fluids are circulating perfectly despite extended zero-G. In fact, your muscle and bone density have improved across the board. It’s like night and day compared to your last medical workup.”

A series of X-rays and scans flashed across Reno’s viewing screen.

Cumulative bone density loss had forced Reno’s retirement from NASA, only to have Hugo Visser snap him up with promises of commanding Athena Station … at least until Reno vocally objected to his prioritizing cost-cutting over crew safety. His big mouth had exiled him to piloting the lunar shuttle Brier Creek.

The doctor said, “Thanks to nanorobotics, we’ve conquered zero gravity-related physical decay. We’re all really excited.”

Images of nanorobotics, or nanobots, appeared onscreen. The insect-like creatures reminded Reno of the ticks he’d gotten while serving in Afghanistan. Hundreds of these microscopic automations were coursing through his bloodstream, repairing the physical decay that came with extended zero gravity. Reno had been the first human guinea pig, a logical choice given that prolonged zero-G exposure had left him with the bone density of a tortilla chip.

Reno said, “Fantastic. Another technological wonder for Hugo Visser to slap his name on.”

The standard two-second radio delay became a pregnant pause.

Reno could picture the tension back at CAPCOM. Hugo Visser made it a habit to eavesdrop on their radio communications, especially the private channels. In addition to being paranoid, he was also a pathological narcissist with an ego as fragile as Reno’s bones. Reno was the only corporate astronaut who gleefully poked the bear.

CAPCOM finally responded. “Copy, Brier Creek. You can return to the main channel.”

Thinking about his boss inspired Reno to run a diagnostic on his cargo. Eight Visser Motors crypto trucks converted for lunar use were securely packed into the cargo bay.

Reno was about to radio a status update when a shrill alarm filled the cabin. He checked his readings, but everything was in the green. The alarm sounded again. Reno confirmed the signal wasn’t from his control panels. It was transmitting over the communications system.

A panicked voice came over the air, but it wasn’t speaking English. The message repeated without the two-second Earth-to-moon delay, meaning it originated on the moon.

Reno scrolled through the radio frequencies. The incomprehensible signal was being transmitted across all channels. “That’s gotta be Mandarin.”

The alarm sounded again, followed by a heavily accented voice speaking English. “This is People’s Republic Mining Station, Long March 8, issuing a distress call. We have a fire of unknown origin. The reactor is burning. We require assistance.”

Reno flicked through the radio frequencies, muttering, “A whole moon full of clean Helium 3 and you geniuses are running a nuclear reactor. It’s like I’m the only goddamned grown-up on the moon.”

But it didn’t matter what caused the fire or whose base it was—the ancient tradition of the Mariners’ Code mandated giving aid to anyone in distress.

“CAPCOM, this is Brier Creek, preparing for a rescue operation.”

CAPCOM came on advising, “Brier Creek, don’t respond to the distress call; Mr. Visser had declared the Chinese mining operation an adversary.”

Reno struggled to keep from punching the com panel. “CAPCOM, they’re not adversaries; they’re business competitors and the Mariners’ Code still applies out here, so please advise Mr. Visser to go hang it in his ass.”

About the Author
Website-Facebook
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Doomsday Planet is William Burke’s fifth novel, following a long career in film and television. He was the creator and director of the Destination America paranormal series Hauntings and Horrors and the OLN series Creepy Canada, as well as producing the HBO productions Forbidden Science, Lingerie and Sin City Diaries. His work has garnered high praise from network executives and insomniacs watching Cinemax at 3 a.m.

During the 1990’s Burke was a staff producer for the Playboy Entertainment Group, producing eighteen feature films and multiple television series. He’s acted as Line Producer and Assistant Director on dozens of feature films—some great, some bad and some truly terrible.

Aside from novels Burke has written for Fangoria Magazine, Videoscope Magazine and is a regular contributor to Horrornews.net.

He also served in the United States Air Force, reaching the rank of sergeant.

He can be found at williamburkeauthor.com

The Emerald Regal Guard & The Fern of Revival by Jason Lontz

The Emerald Regal Guard & The Fern of Revival
by Jason Lontz
March 6, 2025
Genre: Children's Middle Grade Chapter Book, Action/Adventure

Pages: 81
In the white oak woods as the leaves begin to fall into a river on the rise. Will the strong-willed emerald guardian Leum and the lizard regal guard be able to protect the lizard legions from Blaine's bullfrog brigade and the rest of their amphibian adversaries? When the king requires a special fern that only grows in the remote swamplands will his reign continue unchallenged if old alliances are disturbed? Discover if the proven warrior and the rest of the emerald regal guard can find a way to defend home tree, complete the quest, and weather the storm.

-Enter the embattled woodland of the Lizard King Anole
-Behold a tail of enchanting alliances beyond sword and shield, claw and cutlass 

Amazon

 

About the Author

website
Jason Lontz grew up in New Jersey, where his love for story telling took root among books, backyard adventures, and bold imagination. His debut action-adventure novel, The Emerald Regal Guard & the Fern of Revival, channels the wild charm of coastal Carolina, and a flair for creating immersive worlds. Jason is currently working on the third book in the series, continuing the saga with even greater stakes and deeper magic.

Movie Review: Jurassic World Rebirth (2025)

Jurassic World: Rebirth
July 2, 2025
Director: Gareth Edwards
Writers: Michael Crichton, David Koepp
Starring: Scarlett Johansson; Mahershala Ali; Jonathan Bailey; Rupert Friend; Manuel Garcia-Rulfo; Ed Skrein
Running time: 2h 13m
MPAA rating: PG-13
Five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, the planet's ecology has proven largely inhospitable to dinosaurs. Those remaining exist in isolated equatorial environments with climates resembling the one in which they once thrived. The three most colossal creatures within that tropical biosphere hold the key to a drug that will bring miraculous life-saving benefits to humankind.

Jurassic World Rebirth is the latest installment in the action-packed dino franchise. It's a total popcorn flick and I loved it. If you're expecting more, look elsewhere because this is for those who love edge-of-your-seat dinos!

Scar Jo brings the fun and humor in this one, with tons of laugh-out-loud moments and some real-life emotion. There is, of course, foreshadowing all over the beginning. it's sooooo clear what's going to happen and then of course it does. Typical, but you gotta love this is a paint by numbers of the best kind.

Sometimes I don't want to think, I just want to watch the biggest creatures that once walked the earth roar!!!! It's booming and shakes the seats at times and I LOVE it! Of course, the characters do the dumbest things, draw attention and don't turn around when they need to. But that's just how these go.

Some classic nods to the first love in this franchise; those who know will know. Listen, nothing will ever be as epic as the first movie, just get over that. But this one can be enjoyed from start to finish and was worth the ticket price + popcorn + candy + drinks + hot dogs....you get the idea.

Getting 4 "don't eat me" Sheep
KD 

 

Image Comic Graphic Novel Love Everlasting will be adapted for film from Sony Pictures Entertainment

The epic, time-bending Eisner and Harvey Award nominated graphic novel series, Love Everlasting by Eisner Award winning writer Tom King (Batman, The Vision, Mister Miracle) and fan-favorite artist Elsa Charretier (November, The Infinite Loop) will be adapted for film from Sony Pictures Entertainment. According to last week’s exclusive scoop at DEADLINE on the news, “Room helmer Lenny Abrahamson attached to direct and Jane Goldman writing the script. Emma Watts and Element’s Ed Guiney are producing.”

Love Everlasting Volume 1 Paperback
by Tom King (Author), Elsa Charretier (Artist), Matt Hollingsworth (Artist)

Image Comics
February 14, 2023
A terrifying, time-loop. A bad romance. An unforgettable, genre-bending mashup from boundary-pushing creative duo Tom King and Elsa Charretier!

From multiple Eisner Award-winning writer Tom King and up-and-coming artist Elsa Charretier comes the first volume of a thrilling, genre-bending romance/horror mashup. Joan Peterson discovers that she is trapped in an endless, terrifying cycle of “romance”—a problem to be solved, a man to marry—and every time she falls in love she’s torn from her world and thrust into another tear-soaked tale. Her bloody, time-looping journey to freedom and revelation begins in this breathtaking, groundbreaking debut volume. Collects Love Everlasting #1-5.

Select praise for Love Everlasting:

“King (Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow) and Charretier’s (Department of Truth, Vol. 3) gripping mystery subverts the romance-comic genre but still delivers genuine romantic melodrama.” —Library Journal (starred review)

“Charretier’s thick-line cartoony character design, reminiscent of Darwyn Cooke, perfectly depicts this genre crossover, and Matt Hollingsworth’s colors capture the eeriness, avoiding primary colors with suitably subdued secondary palettes for each chapter. This series launch piles on the thrills and leaves tantalizing questions open. Readers will be eager to see the next volume.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"The expressive strokes of Charretier’s art here have nostalgic warmth, but they're more connected to the retro-modern cartooning of, say, Batman Adventures than actual art from any of those doe-eyed comics of yesteryear. This feels like then, but it's deeply rooted in now, which makes it the ideal aesthetic for this meta take... King’s interest, as it’s often been, is deconstruction, and the narrative necessarily takes some repetition to achieve it. However, certain chapters function as gripping romances on their own merits, even as they advance toward a conceptual, distressing, but ultimately compelling culmination." ―Booklist

"While much of the story is told in a dead-on, entertaining style that pays homage to the romance comics of the 1950s, the elements of mystery and horror that emerge make the book much more than a nostalgic indulgence. The writing is clever and builds tension throughout, while the art is impeccable in its blend of colors, linework, and style, covering settings from World War I era France to the Old West in America well. Rich themes and deep questions underpin Joan’s adventures, as about the true nature of love, the need for it, and the desire for independence and self-realization...Love Everlasting Volume 1 is a fascinating romantic horror story about a woman who shifts between lives." ―Foreword Reviews

 

Love Everlasting, Vol. 2 trade paperback (ISBN: 9781534398481, Lunar Code 0923IM359)
 

9

Love Everlasting, Vol. 3 trade paperback (ISBN: 9781534330702)

Tide Song, Melody of the Deep: A fantasy coming of age adventure (Tide Song Duology, Part 1) by K.E. Hummel

We're celebrating brand new fantasy Tide Song by K.E. Hummel. Read on for more details!

Tide Song: Melody of the Deep
by K.E. Hummel
Jan 17, 2025
Genre: YA Fantasy/ No Romance
Tropes:
Coming of age, reluctant hero, mythical creatures, found family, epic quest, overcoming prejudice
"Her voice can bridge worlds, but can it save them?"

A shattered nest
Their children dead
While above, invaders sail...

In the peaceful waters of Tirahanko Bay, Kei’s unique voice connects her to the Kopri, wise octopus-folk vital to her people’s survival. But a Kopri Prophet’s desperate plea thrusts Kei into a dangerous mission. She must journey to the outer sea, to help the Kopri communicate with the cruel Koru-Kah, human invaders destroying the Kopri’s underwater realm.

As danger mounts and Kei travels far from home, she must find a strength she never knew she had. Despite paralyzed legs, Kei navigates the perilous waters of captivity and forges unexpected bonds with Jacuti, a young enslaved sailor, and her loyal Kopri friend, OldFish. Together, they must face the inhumanity of the invaders and save the Kopri from destruction.

“Tide Song: Melody of the Deep” can be read as a stand-alone, complete novel. But the story continues in Part Two of the Tide Song Duology: “Children of Tayjaru,” coming to Amazon June 15, 2025. Perfect for young adult and adult readers.
 who believe in the magic within themselves and the strength found in unexpected friendships.

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON

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