Author's Blog: John Marco - The Happy Nerd
Website: The Happy Nerd
Twitter: @happynerdjohn
E-Mail: johnmarco@aol.com
Facebook: Check Out Facebook
Author Description: John Marco writes fantasy stories. He is a husband, a father, and a proud, admitted nerd.
He says,'I can't remember a time when I didn't want to be a writer. I have early memories of pounding the keys of my sister's typewriter, writing my first stories and dreaming of the day I'd be published. I managed to reach that goal back in 1999 with the publication of my first book, The Jackal of Nar. Since then I've had six additional books published, and more are on the way.'
He loves to blog and he spends a fair amount of time talking about ephemera. So if you like movies, comic books, and retro, you'll feel right at home reading about him.
SPOTLIGHT Questions and Answers with the Author
Getting your start in the traditional publishing world, how has ebooks affected the way you and your group approach marketing? Did ebooks change the way you write and organize your work?
So far all the books I’ve had published have been through the traditional route, though I fully expect that to change in the future. I’m a big believer in independent publishing and the way it’s empowered authors. But I think that the way authors market their work is pretty much the same no matter how they’re books are published.
I’ve been online for years and have always done all of my marketing online. I’ve only been to one convention as a guest and have never done a book signing. Those are great for authors who enjoy them, but online promotion has always suited me better.
Did moving from Lukien and Richius to the Skylords and a younger audience present any problems in preparation and writing? There appears to be a difference in the size of the Skylord book compared to the others you have written.
I made a real effort to change my writing style when I wrote the first Skylords book. I wanted it to be accessible for younger readers, obviously, but also easier to read in general. I started to train myself to make each word really “count,” and have carried that over into the books I’ve written since then.
It was really a matter of training myself to be more careful, to write scenes that contain a lot of information and cut out scenes that slow down the narrative. Maybe that kind of thing just comes with time; I’m not sure. I do believe that I’m a much better writer now, however.
In the last two months your twitter follower’s count has increased 25%. Are you making an effort to be more engaging with a younger audience? Do you get different types of tweets from the younger group than before?
The twitter account that I have now is actually my second one. The first one just petered out and died from neglect. But when I went back to twitter I found that I enjoyed it much more the second time around. I have to stop myself from going up there so often, because it can be real time-sink if you’re not careful.
And the followers I have really vary in age—I’m not shooting for a particular type of follower or demographic. If you like fantasy books and other nerdy things like comic books and video games, we’ll probably get along just fine.
You have great covers. Have you considered taking your storylines and mixing graphics with color and creating an ebook for real young readers like a teaser for their later years?
First, thanks for the comment about the book covers. I’ve been lucky to have some great artists work on them. I really love fantasy artwork and have all of my life, so for me the whole cover process is the most enjoyable part of watching the book come together.
But honestly, I’ve never even thought of doing the kind of book you describe. I love art, but I’m not an artist of any kind, and really wouldn’t know where to begin to do something like that. It would be pretty cool though!
Author's Book List
The Forever Knight: A Novel of the Bronze KnightCOMING SOON: April 2013
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Starfinder - A Skylords NovelA thrilling young adult fantasy adventure Young, orphaned Moth is obsessed with the airships around his mountain home and dreams of taking to the air one day like his heroes, the Skyknights. With his best friend, Fiona, he will soon breach the magical boundary between their world and the world of the mysterious and powerful race known as the Skylords, who have jealously guarded their heavenly domain.
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The Sword of Angels - The Lukien NovelArmed with a magic amulet which bestows eternal life on the wearer, a powerful knight protects the fortress of Grimhold, where the magical people of his world reside. But when his closest friend is pulled into the evil sway of the Devil's Armor, only the Sword of Angels can defeat it.
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The Devil's Armor - The Lukien NovelThis sequel to the critically-acclaimed The Eyes of God, from award-winning author John Marco, continues the epic tale of Arthurian elements, diverse magic, war, intrigue, romance, and deception.
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The Eyes of God - The Lukien NovelAkeela, King of Liiria, was a young and idealistic scholar who was determined to bring peace to his kingdom—a land that had been plagued by war with the neighboring kingdom of Reec for decades. Lukien, the Bronze Knight of Liiria, had been taken in by the royal family when, at fourteen, he saved Akeela's life, but he'd never forgotten the brutal lessons of the streets he'd grown up on. A bond of loyalty stronger than blood linked these two men—but no two souls could be more different. And as Akeela and Lukien entered their enemy's stronghold on a mission of peace, neither man could forsee the turmoil this historic mission would wreak on their lives. For, to seal the peace, King Karis of Reec would bestow upon Akeela the hand of his charming, beautiful, and accomplished daughter Cassandra. But Cassandra hid a terrible secret. She was experiencing the first symptoms of a disease which would threaten her life and cause unimaginable strife for all who loved her. For Akeela and Lukien, the quest for Cassandra's salvation would overwhelm every bond of loyalty, every point of honor, every dream of peace. For only the magical amulets known as the Eyes of God could halt the progress of Cassandra's illness. But the Eyes of God would also open the way to a magical stronghold which could tear their world apart and redefine the very nature of their reality.
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The Saints of the Sword - Tyrants and KingsJohn Marco presents the riveting conclusion to his sweeping fantasy saga — in which three unlikely allies stand united against a terrifying crisis that threatens to devastate a world. Biagio, Emperor of Nar, was once a madman and a tyrant. Now he wants peace. The irony is that no one believes him. Instead, the cruelest of his minions are amassing an army to usurp his throne, bringing a new scourge to a battle-scarred world. But the wily Biagio has one more desperate plan. Alazrian Leth, bastard son of Aramoor’s governor, is barely sixteen, but this young prince secretly possesses rare magical talents. Biagio sends Alazrian on a near-impossible mission: to convince outlawed priest Jahl Rob and his followers — the fearless Saints of the Sword — to search for the exiled ruler of Aramoor and the mysterious people called the Triin. If these ancient enemies can unite into one great army, a boy’s strange and wonderful magic may be the spark to heal a wounded world ... or set in motion an unimaginable betrayal.
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The Grand Design - Tyrants and KingsFrom John Marco comes the epic sequel to his thrilling debut military fantasy, The Jackel of Nar. An infamous warrior is once again caught between two irrexixtible forces, and his choice may change the world... Prince Richius Vantran, the Jackal of Nar, has fled into exile. Meanwhile, Nar has exploded in civil war. The conflict is being waged between the religious fanatics of Bishop Herrith, who follow the Light of God, and the ruthless followers of Count Biagio and his Black Renaissance. As the terrifying slaughter mounts, fueled by the development of hideous new war machines, Vantran is offered a chance to ally with a third faction and take his revenge against his ancient enemy Biagio. But Biagio, a master of deception and intrigue, has a grand design to gain total power that involves luring Vantran's new allies into a deadly trap. As for Vantran, Biagio has a special punishment: to strike the warrior-prince's only weakness…Vantran's innocent daughter. And Vantran himself will unwittingly seal the young girl's fate.
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The Jackal of Nar - Tyrants and KingsThis powerful, multilayered saga features a complicated hero: brave yet sensitive General Richius Vantran. Ordered by the Emperor to halt a revolt by a religious faction, Vantran's success wins him both Imperial favor and a wife--though neither sits well with him. For in battle, he fell in love with a member of the very religious faction he put down. Torn between duty and passion, Vantran surprises himself by choosing to love the enemy--and march against his old companions.
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Author Recommended by: HBSystems Publications
Publisher of ebooks, writing industry blogger and the sponsor of the HBS Author's Spotlight plus the blog: eBook Author's Corner
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