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I decided to read Blood Skies after enthusiastic recommendations by Danielle Young of the Consuming Worlds blog. When she announced she was hosting a blog tour for the seventh and final book in the series, Vampire Down, I was intrigued. I’ve never been able to jump in at the end of a series, so I picked up a copy of Blood Skies and started reading. My first impression is that Steven Montano has an incredible imagination. My second is that the Blood Skies series definitely fits the dark fantasy genre in all its dramatic glory. Montano put serious effort into world building and character development, and expresses his knowledge of military small unit tactics. The story takes off quick and shows a world changed by a cataclysmic magical event called The Black resulting in humankind’s struggle for survival. Wizards, warlocks, and military commandos battle against vampires and a host of undead

Photo credit: www.colt.com creatures using everything from assault rifles to more exotic devices powered with steam and necromancy. Magic, specifically human magic, is important to the finale. Montano describes the more important tools of the trade in some detail. Given the intensity of the battles Cross and his Southern Claw Alliance squad mates face, weapons and the soldiers who bear them have a short life expectancy. Before long, Cross is racing to save his sister Snow, and also the magical spirit that has lived with him since he was a child (the spirit doesn’t have a name). Not everyone is going to make it home alive.It is hard to describe how many bad things happen to Cross and his companions.In the world of Blood Skies, little is remembered about the past, before The Black. The protagonist, Cross, a warlock assigned to an elite military squad, must find a traitor that has plans to betray humanity to The Old One and the vampire nation. In the end, Cross will determine the fate of mortals everywhere.I enjoyed this book and will be adding the rest of the series to my reading list.(Though I am reviewing this as part of a blog tour and could have obtained a free copy, I purchased the book because I wanted it on my Kindle & Kindle Phone app, and also because I don’t mind spending money on books. The last time I checked, Blood Skies was available for free anyway.)

The Blood Skies series Steven Montano
BLOOD SKIES Blood Skies, Book 1 In the time after The Black, human survivors of the Southern Claw Alliance clash with vampire legions of the Ebon Cities in a constant war for survival. Earth as we know it has been forever damaged by an arcane storm that fused our world with distant realms of madness and terror. Things that once existed only in our nightmares stalk the earth. Now, humanity is threatened by one of its own. Eric Cross, an enlisted warlock in the Southern Claw military, is part of an elite team of soldiers and mages in pursuit of a woman known as Red — a witch whose stolen knowledge threatens the future of the human race. The members of Viper Squad will traverse haunted forests and blighted tundra in their search for the traitor, a journey that ultimately leads them to the necropolis of Koth. There, in that haven of renegade undead, Cross will discover the dark origins of magic, and the true meaning of sacrifice… Experience a dark and deadly new world in the debut novel of the “Blood Skies” series from author Steven Montano. Book 1, Blood Skies is currently FREE on Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

BLACK SCARS Blood Skies, Book 2 Something ancient has awoken. Primordial and wholly evil, a living shadow emerges from a prison made weak by the magical cataclysm called The Black. Now the Sleeper stalks the land in search of its old enemies, leaving a trail of madness and destruction in its wake. Eric Cross, a Southern Claw warlock, has been sent to find the Woman in the Ice, the only known means to stopping this evil. Aided by a grizzled ranger and a band of wardens and inmates from a sadistic prison, Cross’ mission will bring him into conflict with an array of foes: the barbaric Gorgoloth, vampire shock troops out of the Ebon Cities, and a cadre of mercenary nihilists called the Black Circle. On a mission that will take him from a lost temple once ruled by insidious wolf sorcerers to the vicious gladiator games of the vampire city-state of Krul to the deadly ruins of an ice city, Cross will play a pivotal role in an ancient conflict whose outcome will determine the future of the world. Return to the world of Blood Skies in this exciting military fantasy adventure! Helpful Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

SOULRAZOR Blood Skies, Book 3 The war continues… Eric Cross and his team of elite mercenaries are the bane of the Ebon Cities. Armed with the cutting-edge arcane weaponry of the Southern Claw, Cross and his crew – Black, Kane, Ronan, Maur, Grissom and Ash – have become a veritable thorn in the side of the vampire armies. Now the team is tasked with halting vampire activity near the remote city-state of Fane, where the Ebon Cities have teamed up with a former Revenger in search of a deadly weapon called Soulrazor. To make matters worse, something sinister has happened to Cross, and the key to his salvation is somehow directly tied to the Ebon Cities’ new soldiers: a host of necrotic angels who bear traces of divine power. Cross and his team must travel across a blighted wilderness and do battle with a vile array of enemies as they race not only to save the city of Thornn from total annihilation, but to rescue Cross’ very soul from an enemy more powerful than he could ever imagine…

CROWN OF ASH Blood Skies, Book 4 Eric Cross and his team have been to hell and back, but their journey isn’t over yet. Marooned in the remote criminal city of Blacksand, the only way for the mercenaries to get home is to help a local crime boss protect his territories from the Ebon Cities. To complicate matters, Danica Black is also being hunted by The Revengers, a powerful band of corrupt prison wardens, while Cross himself is trapped in the Whisperlands, a realm of darkness controlled by a cadre of evil mages known as the Shadow Lords. The team will battle their way through corroding wastelands and deadly vampire outposts, but even their considerable skills might not be enough to save them from the cruel machinations of the Shadow Lord’s mysterious master, a malevolent creature who has manipulated their destinies right from the beginning… Return to the world of The Black in Book 4 of the BLOOD SKIES saga! Helpful Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

THE WITCH’S EYE Blood Skies, Book 5 A new evil is born. The Ebon Cities have created a deadly new breed of undead called the Witchborn, whose very existence spells doom for the entire continent. To make matters worse, a nihilist cult called the Black Circle has learned of the Witch’s Eye, the source of the Witchborn virus and an item capable of opening a portal to The Black. Eric Cross’s scattered and war-weary team must find the Eye before it’s too late. With the aid of some unlikely allies, the mercenaries will fight their way across the wastelands and challenge the horrors at the edge of oblivion. And before the battle is won Cross and his team will make the ultimate sacrifice, and face one of their own… Return to the world After The Black in Book 5 of the BLOOD SKIES saga! Helpful Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

CHAIN OF SHADOWS Blood Skies, Book 6 The barrier between worlds has been broken, and the invasion is about to begin. Eric Cross, burdened by the loss of those who’ve died under his command, must lead his recently reunited mercenary team against the shadow wolf sorcerers known as the Maloj. Bound to dire artifact blades and charged with protecting the Kindred, Cross seeks help from the enigmatic White Mother, leader of the Southern Claw. But sinister forces bring his vessel down in a strange and distant land, and soon Cross and his allies are beset by undead armies vying for control of the deadly region called the Chain of Shadows. Trapped in a desert waste where wielding magic is dangerous and nothing is as it seems, Cross’s team will pay the ultimate price in their battle to finally get home… Return to the world After the Black in this pivotal 6th book of the BLOOD SKIES saga! Helpful Links: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

VAMPIRE DOWN Blood Skies, Book 7 Coming June 27th! Who ever knew the end would come so soon? In this final volume of the BLOOD SKIES series, Eric Cross and Danica Black find themselves facing impossible odds in the desolate ruins of the world they once knew.  Hunted by the mercenary forces of the newly formed East Claw Coalition and desperate to find the elusive White Mother, the two refugees will be pushed to the limits of their abilities and sanity as they struggle to survive. Meanwhile, in the near future, the undead hunter called Reaver searches for the lost city of Bloodhollow, the place where humankind will make its final stand, while the undead of New Koth and the rebellious White Children make their push to end the reign of the Ebon Kingdoms once and for all. As timelines collide and the spider weaves her web, the battle for the fate of the riven world will come to its violent conclusion in the depths of a forgotten city, where unlikely heroes will emerge and hidden evils will finally be revealed…Helpful Links: Smashwords | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Photo link http://www.sfreviews.net/ Last year I discovered the works of science fiction author John G. Hemry (whose pen name is Jack Campbell) and listened to the Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier series. It was an honest mistake, and I planned to return to the first series once I finished the second.Dauntless is an entertaining book for several reasons. The protagonist, Black Jack Geary, is thoroughly honorable and dedicated to his duty. He’s a strong hero who wins. The supporting cast either idolizes him as a legend reborn or despises him as a relic of a previous era. In Dauntless, Geary is faced with long odds and must retrain the fleet in forgotten traditions and disciplines. The book is packed with dialogue and internal dialogue. The setting consists largely of “light minutes and hours” from the enemy or destinations. There is plenty of information dump and explanations of how space battles are fought. The theme of the book seems to be how Black Jack Geary is a reluctant hero, an exceptionally moral and honorable hero, and is destined to be the greatest military champion ever.This description might turn potential readers off, as it encompasses several techniques writers are taught to avoid, however, I must say I really enjoyed Dauntless and plan to listen to the rest of the series in audiobook format.

A little over a year ago I realized that one of my friends on twitter was someone I actually knew in the real world. We talked a lot about writing through Twitter and occasionally meet to through around ideas about books, publishing, and stories. Josh was gracious enough to take on some beta reading work for Enemy of Man and I found his observations not only energetic, but helpful to the revision process. Good beta readers are hard to find.Josh has also made great strides with his web site and building his social media presence, so although I have a head start in the realm of Indie publishing, I learning from him every time we talk. One thing you’ll learn about Josh Hayes is that he has an impressive writing routine and some great tools. Without further delay, let’s get to the interview. “The Final Frontier”
Scott: What was the first story you wrote?Josh: The first story I wrote was a military science fiction tale called “The Final Frontier”.  I was about a genetic weapons experiment which went horribly wrong and proceeds to kill everyone and everything. Think Star Trek meets Aliens. I wrote it long hand in a red one-subject notebook, and it’s still tucked safely away in my box of Stuff-That-No-one-Will-Ever-See-Ever.Scott: That notebook looks familiar, I’m pretty sure I’ve got a couple from the good-ole-days. Next question, how long have you considered yourself a writer (and what convinced you that you were a writer)?
Josh Hayes, author of “The Watch”
Josh: You know that’s a good question. I’ve been writing stories in one form or another since I was 14 years old. I’ve read a lot recently about the difference between “writers” and “authors” and have concluded that no matter what, if you take the time to sit down and create something, you are a writer.I consider myself an Indie Writer. I haven’t been able to give myself the title “author” yet, but only because I don’t feel like I’ve earned that. I think that if I ever become successful (and by that I mean if I ever make $100 on my writing and someone besides my closest friends read my work, then I’ll wear the “author badge” around like a first place ribbon. Scott: This is one of those questions every writer dreads, but I have to ask; How do you find ideas for stories?Josh: They just come to me, most of the time out of nowhere and usually when I’m not ready for them. I’ve had several light bulb moments when I’m in the middle of doing things that have nothing at all to do with writing. Thank God for smartphones.

Scott: Tell us about your writing routine (so we can all steal it and become massively productive).Josh: My routine, until recently, had been extremely sporadic. I would write for a few days or weeks then wouldn’t touch a keyboard for weeks or months on end. This year I decided that this was something that I really wanted to do and it was time to get serious about writing.I work over nights, so usually I wake up around 10 or 11am, make a pot of coffee, scroll through some blogs and waste way too much time on Facebook, then after about my second cup I start pounding away at the keys. I keep track of my daily, weekly, and monthly word counts and set my daily minimum at 500 words. A couple of weeks ago I learned about the #1K1H Challenge on Twitter, which is basically just a game to write 1,000 words in 1 hour, and that has done wonders for my writing. I set a timer, turn everything else off (except my music) and type. It sounded daunting at first, but I’ve never not made the 1,000 work mark.

Scott: Sounds like some writing sprints I’ve tried on Twitter. Lots of fun, but I found myself drifting away from the rules of the contest, but that’s another story.What is your favorite piece(s) of writing software?Josh: I use Scrivener for writing and its sister program Scapple for outlining, planning and plotting. I’m a very non-linear writer and until recently was also a Panster. (That’s seat of the pants writer.) Scrivener allows you to write can keep track of multiple documents and scenes and chapters all in one program. The compile system has a steep learning curve, but once you figure it out, there is no better program for writing.Scapple is just a huge blank document that you can brainstorm on: think of a black piece of paper and you’re just writing notes, circling them and drawing lines to other notes. I spent two days this week planning out a new science fiction series and after plotting out the first three books had well over 500 notes for the project. It’s extremely simple to you and very powerful. You can also drag those notes right into Scrivener and create your scenes straight from them.

The Ultimate Writing Desk Scrivner and Scapple

Scott: Can you tell us about your current project?Josh: Right now I’m working on two completely different projects. One is a main stream crime/detective novel, which I’ve put on the back burner for my new science fiction series. I plan for this series to have five parts, which I’m planning to release as they are completed, and each part will be around 20k to 25k words. The project’s working title is “Second Star” and it’s a science fiction re-imagining of a classic children’s tale. It’s been something that I’ve been playing around with in my head for almost a year now, and recently got the thumbs up from the company that owns the original material to go ahead with the project. I’m really excited about it.Scott: Cool. That type of thing seems to be catching on. Sounds like a blockbuster in the making.Next question, what is your favorite movie?Josh: Oh, man, this is tough. I’d have to say it’s a tie between Inception, The Dark Knight and War Games. “Would you like to play a game?”Scott: (Laughing) What is your favorite book?Josh: Easy. The Gunslinger. It gets better every time I read it. The second time I read it I literally got goose bumps. Scott: The Gunslinger is awesome. One of the first, if not the first, audio books I ever listened too. Josh: I’m also a huge Harry Potter fan.Scott: What is your favorite song or album?Josh: Anything by Breaking Benjamin.Scott: Do you listen to music when you write?Josh: I listen to dramatic movie scores, usually ones from science fiction movies. If I’m ever looking at a blank screen with nothing to write, I blare the soundtrack to Tron: Legacy and go about derezzing anyone on a Lightcycle.Scott: Where do you see yourself in five years?Josh: Hopefully doing exactly what I’m doing now, writing. With the possible exception of not having a full time job. I would love to make enough money to become a full time writer, but even if I only every make enough to pay my phone bill that’s okay with me. Scott: If you could have one author give a blurb for your book, who would it be and why?Josh: On man, of course I’m going to say King, but let’s be slightly realistic here: really any author who thought my words rated a blurb, I would be honored to accept their blurb. 

Scott: Do you have any unique ways of sharing your work with readers?Josh: Right now, only have one short story available, which can be found on Amazon for $0.99 or for free on Noise Trade. I’ve also been invited to become one of the first writers to have work sold and promoted by a brand new company OpenBooks.com. The company should be up and running late this year and I’m very excited to work with them. Once I get the go ahead, I will be posting additional details on my website, but their business plan is groundbreaking. Scott: I’m intrigued. Thanks for the interview. I look forward to more book talks. To wrap things up, I am putting a link to The Watch on Noise Trade here, and I also linked the picture to Amazon. 

Today, I am very excited to be able to help author Steven Montano reveal the cover for his final installment in the Blood Skies series, Vampire Down!! Releases June 27, 2014 Blurb~ Who ever knew the end would come so soon?   In this final volume of the BLOOD SKIES series, Eric Cross and Danica Black find themselves facing impossible odds in the desolate ruins of the world they once knew.  Hunted by the mercenary forces of the newly formed East Claw Coalition and desperate to find the elusive White Mother, the two refugees will be pushed to the limits of their abilities and sanity as they struggle to survive.   Meanwhile, in the near future, the undead hunter called Reaver searches for the lost city of Bloodhollow, the place where humankind will make its final stand, while the undead of New Koth and the rebellious White Children make their push to end the reign of the Ebon Kingdoms once and for all.   As timelines collide and the spider weaves her web, the battle for the fate of the riven world will come to its violent conclusion in the depths of a forgotten city, where unlikely heroes will emerge and hidden evils will finally be revealed…   Available Friday June 27th in Ebook and Print format. About the Author~ Steven Montano was something terrifying in his previous life.  Now he’s an accountant, so not much has changed.
An avid hiker, reader, San Antonio Spurs fan, goofball husband and father of two, Steven writes novels (the seven volume Blood Skies series, the Skullborn Trilogy, something black…, and the upcoming thrillers Blood Angel Rising and Colder) and drinks a lot of wine when he isn’t busy pulling his hair out over payroll or trying to balance the company books. 
Visit the author’s website and check out the Vampire Down page on Goodreads!
Thanks for stopping by, make sure you check out this series. Book 1, Blood Skies is currently FREE on Amazon | Barnes & Noble Start your journey now.

Every author knows cover reveals are exciting. This is the fourth book design I’ve purchased through Pro Book Covers. They just keep getting better.I remember how excited I was to see Dragon Badge. The first time is always special. When I saw Enemy of Man, it took my breath away because it fit the story perfectly. Sometimes in life, you actually get more than you hope for!Now I am looking at Son of Orlan with fresh inspiration. Soon my editor will return her comments. Facing the final revision strikes terror in the boldest author, but I can’t wait. The release date has been set for August 1st, but I should be done before then. (It’s always good to pad the schedule a little when it comes to polishing 85,000 words.)I hope you like this cover as much as I do and will consider reading the Chronicles of Kin Roland series.

The second book in the Chronicles of Kin Roland series has been a long time coming. The first draft flowed through the keyboard like a gift from the imagination. However, I’ve dedicated myself to writing the best I possibly can. The Son of Orlan has been edited and revised more than anything I’ve published. The release date has yet to be set. I’m waiting on a final round of editor’s comments and beta reader feedback before finalizing the manuscript. (Samantha LaFantasie edited Enemy of Man, and has graciously agreed to do the same for book two.)The new cover by probookcovers.com looks great and I can’t wait to share it. This Friday, the intensely visual artwork will be on display for Enemy of Man fans to drool over.SON OF ORLANKin Roland survived the Battle of Crater Town. He managed to keep his friends alive, though most remained at his side on Crashdown when the safe course would have been to evacuate with Earth Fleet. Kin even found the girl of his dreams.Surviving Earth Fleet justice and a Reaper vendetta was only the beginning. Now Kin has real trouble. With the  Grand Army of the Mazz Empire descending on the planet to destroy ancient enemies and Reapers sweeping across the landscape leaving terror and death in their wake, Kin learns the truth of his supposedly invincible enemies. The largest military expedition in history isn’t that of of a conquering force. The Mazz are on the run–fleeing extinction and Kin knows desperate enemies are dangerous.Kin will find himself in a position no one expected. He’ll define humanity with his next choice, or doom them eternally.If you are new to the series, please check out book one: Enemy of Man

A World on Fire: Britain’s Crucial Role in the American Civil War revealed aspects of the historical period I hadn’t been exposed to in other books. The author, Amanda Foreman, describes key events I have read in other books on the Civil War, but also shows the surprising effect on England and other parts of the world.I vaguely remember some of the stranger attempts at holding the Union together, but this book made my eyes pop open. Secretary of State William Henry Seward attempted a novel tactic at the beginning of the war, namely, he raised the specter of a potential foreign war in the belief the Confederate States would rejoin the Union out of a sense of nationalism. The potential disaster of this course of action can barely be imagined.A World on Fire also recounts the tale of the CSS Alabama and how much of the world seemed fascinated by the ship and crew’s exploits. The book explained how many people in England supported the Confederacy despite their hatred of slavery.I had also never read about Confederate operations from Canada, nor seen a detailed account of the conscription of English citizens on both sides of the war.A World on Fire follows the lives of colorful characters, some noble, some not so much.The audiobook version is narrated by Dean Robertson, who does a good job and is easy to listen to.This is definitely a book to read. Civil War history has always interested me, and I plan to re-read previous books and search for new discussions of the topic.

I’ve met some great people since my entrance into the world of social media; readers, novelists, and bloggers from all walks of life. One of the excellent sites I follow is Consuming Worlds. Several of her blog posts have mentioned an author named Steven Montano. She refers to him as one of her favorite authors, and I keep adding his books to my wish list. Like most readers with two jobs and a single income family of six, my to-be-read pile is long and new entries are serious business.Today I pulled the trigger and picked up a Kindle copy of Blood Skies, which to my delight, was free. I have no idea if this is a perma-free book to introduce the series or if I just got lucky. I have no affiliation with Mr. Montano other than Danielle’s persistent recommendations of his writing. Please check back for my review and be patient. I’m a slow reader. When I spend time in the pages, I daydream my way through the story. That’s why I have a high standard for what I read. If you follow my blog (or followed my previous blog Scott Moon Blog) then you know I listen to a lot of audio books, because I need stories and driving is a big part of my life.Anyhow, I will be participating in the cover reveal of Vampire Down: Book 7 in the Blood Skies series. My review of the first book should be done by the beginning of July. With luck, I might score a guest post from Steven Montano during his blog tour.If you would like to participate in the cover reveal for Vampire Down, please visit Danielle’s site here.Thanks for stopping by.

Perhaps there are writers craving competition with the intensity of a mixed martial arts superstar. And maybe pigs will fly to the moon and eat cheese. The sad reality is that more books are published now than any time in history, but there is good news. Tools exist to help authors stand out from the crowd.Nothing exists to replaced imagination or a skilled editor. The editing tools I am about to describe require time, effort, and don’t replaced professional eyes and the red pen that follows. Serenity Software: Editor and Pro Writing Aid can help deliver a superior product to a paid editor that should spend less time on the manuscript and thus reduce the overall fee.With luck, a writer can pull ahead of the crowd by concentrating on craft and evocative storytelling. Marketing can sell anything, but readers won’t purchase a second mediocre book.First impressions count.

Why I like Serenity Software: EditorThis program is great for finding usage errors and cleaning up diction. It is especially helpful for locating compound words and those that need to be compound words. Serenity brings consistency and can be used in Word.The price is reasonable, and is a one time expense, unlike Grammarly. Which I haven’t tried yet, and thus can’t review. The monthly fee is a bit daunting.
Grammarly has a free option that includes contextual spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Sentence structure, style, vocabulary use, and the palgerism check cost extra.

Why I like Pro Writing AidThis tool works online. It highlights targeted writing issues and offers suggestions. The writing style check will show adverbs in bright colors making it easy to spot problem areas in a manuscript. The cliches and redundancies check is nice. There is a passive word index and repeated word program just to name a few features.Pro Writing Aid also has an affiliate marketing program, which I have elected not to pursue. Some authors advocate affiliate marketing as a way to bolster total income, but my brief experiment with it seemed a waste of time that could have been spent writing.Smartphone TipI discovered a neat trick that allows me to review documents on my smart phone.Simply run Pro Writing Aid on a PC in Google Docs, then pull the file up on a smartphone when you can’t be at your computer. The highlighted words will remain visible for consideration. For my current work-in-progress, the Son of Orlan (book two in the Chronicles of Kin Roland) I’ve used both Serenity and Pro Writing Aid. Soon it will be ready for the eyes of Samantha LaFantasie, the editor of Enemy of Man.In future blogs I will discuss these tools in greater detail. Please share your experiences with these and other productivity tools in the comments section. I know I can use all the help I can get.Let’s write great stories and represent the growing ranks of professional indie authors.

Pro Writing AidRepeated Words Check
Pro Writing AidMenu
Enemy of Man(Science Fiction)Link

Patrick Rothfuss spoke at the 2013 Oklahoma Writers Federation Inc. conference and gave a presentation on world building. Truly a fun guy; he treated everyone with respect and was open about how he writes and develops his stories. His story should be familiar to most writers. A lifelong fan of fantasy, he read extensively. At some point, he began writing and refused to quit, spending years honing his craft before being published. I read his first novel, The Name of the Wind, about a year ago. My TBR list is a mile deep, but I am moving book two, The Wise Man’s Fear, to the top. I think I will read The Name of the Wind again though, since it has been awhile.

(re-posted from Goodreads)Blue Hearts of Mars is the first book I have signed to read in the Shut Up and Read Group. This is the first YA Science Fiction novel I have read and I am enjoying it so far, which should not be surprising, since it has made it to the quarter finals of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel contest.I am a slow reader, or more accurately, a distracted reader. (I currently have three fiction books going and one book on writing. And I am, of course, working on my latest WIP, working, and raising a famly. Not in that order.)The deadline for this book, by the Shut Up and Read group rules, is May 2. So I guess I better stop blogging and start reading.

I rode to the book store on the Road King, testing the camera, which had too much wind in the audio recording. I added some music from the samples that came with the computer.