Stormfall Chronicles Book 2 Trailer

A very short video advertisement featuring Book 2 of the Stormfall Chronicles. A little bit of video fun.

Sixth US Review for Storm's Clouds on Amazon

It was great to see the sixth US review posted for Storm's Clouds this past week on Amazon. A glimpse from the review, posted by Joshua Grant, can be seen below.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R1FIWZM9GFEFJC

Particularly for an author who is just starting out, reviews like this can be invaluable. Thanks again to Josh and all the other readers who have graciously left a review. Josh's website can be found under the link below, for anyone interested in checking it out.

https://diabolicshrimp.com/

Storm's Clouds Reviewed in Bookshine and Readbows

It was a thrill to see Storm's Clouds, the second book in the Stormfall Chronicles, reviewed by Steph Warren on Bookshine and Readbows this past weekend. To quote from her review:

"The main characters are well-developed and interesting.  I liked seeing Eirlon’s mischievous streak, Lynette’s naivety and Baxter’s quiet loyalty as I got to know them better; their personal quirks make them seem more real and empathetic.  I also liked that they still have room to develop."

So glad she enjoyed the book.

https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpress.com/2020/07/19/storms-clouds-j-w-golan/

Fourth Review for Storm's Clouds Appears on Amazon

Also this past week, a fourth review was posted on Amazon for Storm's Clouds - the second book in the Stormfall Chronicles.

Particularly for a relatively new author, every review is appreciated and word-of-mouth is all the more essential.

Review for Book 2 in "Diary of a Wannabe Writer"

It was great to see a review for Storm's Clouds, the second book in the Stormfall Chronicles, appearing on Anie's "Diary of a Wannabe Writer". To quote from her review:

"The world created is so imaginative, well set up and fleshed out. When I read I felt like I was right there with them."

Anie's review also marks the first review for Book 2 to appear directly on Amazon's UK website. So glad Anie enjoyed the novel:
https://diaryofawannabewriter.blogspot.com/2020/06/storms-clouds-by-j-w-golan.html

Stormfall Chronicles Appears in The Faerie Review

I was delighted to see the lovely reviews posted for Books 1 and 2 of the Stormfall Chronicles, on The Faerie Review. To quote in part:

"I absolutely love it! Vivid imagery and a story that captures the reader from page one makes this a fun and enchanting read. The characters and setting are rich and well-developed, definitely a story anyone can enjoy regardless of age."

Thanks again Liliyana. The complete review can be found below:
https://www.thefaeriereview.com/2020/04/check-it-out-stormfall-chronicles.html

Beebliophile's Review for Storm's Clouds

The Beebliophile's review for Storm's Clouds, the second novel in the Stormfall Chronicles, appeared earlier this week.

Thanks again to Bee. So glad that she enjoyed the novel:
https://beebliophile.com/2020/04/15/storms-clouds-review/

Stormfall Chronicles Appears on YouTube

Just wanted to send a thank you to book reviewer and blogger Lia Mara Dospetti, who featured Storm's Herald and Storm's Clouds among the novels she is currently reading:
https://youtu.be/fYS49-Wk3Y0

The video is in Italian, and while I must confess my Italian is more than a little rusty (having never learned Italian), it's exciting to see the series being read.

Second and Third Reviews for Book 2 Appear on Amazon

I was thrilled to see my second and third reviews appear on Amazon this past weekend for Book 2 of the Stormfall Chronicles. Thanks again to Paige Green of Pop the Butterfly Reads and to Alison of Story-Eyed Reviews for reviewing my series.

Paige's reviews appeared previously under Goodreads and under her blog site. I shared a little of her review in a previous post.

To quote from Alison's review,

Can't wait to read the sequel . . . The immersive fantasy world, the unique magical system and creatures, all of those things that I loved from the first book were most certainly present in the second, some even more so! . . . 

I loved how much more we go to see of the arc’s of specific side characters that I’ve grown to love. Golan does a great job of inserting personality into every character, no matter how small, which makes them unique but also memorable and relatable.

I'm so glad they both enjoyed the series, and look forward to Book 3.

First Review for Book 2 Appears on Amazon

A first review has been added for Book 2 of the Stormfall Chronicles on Amazon. To quote briefly from the review:

I read the first book in this series, Storm’s Herald and was pleasantly surprised by how much was packed into this fantasy world J.W. Golan created. There’s magic, different species of fantastical creatures and of course an evil trying to destroy the safety the fae hold so dear. . . . 

The action and new dilemmas plaguing these characters definitely make me intrigued enough to read the next in the series.

I'm so glad she enjoyed the book, and look forward to sharing the third book in the series. Many thanks again to Jenna "Meadow" for reviewing "Storm's Clouds".
https://www.thebookofmeadow.com/all-the-books/storms-clouds

First Review for Book 2 - Added to Webpage

Many thanks again to Paige Green for reviewing the second book in the Stormfall Chronicles.

Her review of Storm's Clouds was previously posted on Goodreads, and has now been added to her webpage:
https://popthebutterfly.wordpress.com/2020/01/03/storms-clouds-book-2/

What Does "YA Fantasy" Really Mean?

I'm a writer of Young Adult (YA) Epic Fantasy. But the question might be asked, what does that mean? What makes the fantasy which I right Young Adult or New Adult, rather than simply Epic Fantasy?

There are a couple of key elements which I can point to. First, it should be pointed out that my teenage daughters have been and remain the first audience for whom I write. Their tastes and the kind of fiction which they read have left an indelible mark on the things I write.

As a writer of YA or NA fantasy, I tend to leave out some of the more sexually charged or violent scenes which appear to have become a core staple for many other writers. It's not that such things have no place in literature. It's just that they are unnecessary and distracting from the stories which I write. I therefore attempt to keep certain events "off-screen" or "off-page".

Writing YA Fantasy, however, does not mean that I intend to shield my audience from all the harsh lessons of the world in which they live. My novels are not aimed at an elementary school audience by any stretch of the imagination. Characters do die in my novels. Evil is real, and it isn't banished by hope or charm.

As YA Fantasy, my characters are also grappling with some very real world questions and doubts which are a part of YA or NA fiction. As emerging adults, they must face some of the same questions which my own daughters struggled with. It's not as simple as turning that magical age and suddenly everything makes sense. It doesn't make sense, which is why emerging adults have always struggled to understand who they are, and what their place in the world might be.

Facing the world as an emerging adult, means coming to terms with the good, and the bad in it. The reality that some people are mostly good with a little bit of bad, and others are mostly bad with a little bit of good. It's seldom black-and-white. Bigotry is real, and racism is real. As young adults they will be confronted with that - it's unavoidable. It's my hope that art and literature can help them come to terms with these realities, not avoid them. It also means coming to terms with their own identity, including their own sexual identity, in a world where many are still ignorant or unaccepting of those who are different from themselves - or from their own definition of what "normal" should be.

The world I write about, the questions which my characters must struggle with and face, are the same questions which I saw my own daughters struggle to understand and come to terms with. So if people wonder why my novels reflect some of the diverse issues which they do - that is why. The setting might be a world of fantasy. But the questions which these stories raise are ones which our emerging adults have been struggling to cope with for generations - some more openly than others.

Storm's Clouds: Blog Tour Blitz

Today Indie Blog Hop will be sponsoring a one-day promotional blitz for the second title in the Stormfall Chronicles, "Storm's Clouds"

https://indiebloghop.wordpress.com

Many thanks again to Paige and everyone else who has helped support the Indie Blog Hop.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z429ZJP

A dragon: the most powerful, destructive and malevolent force known. The last thing Lynette ever wanted to get closer to – and the one thing she’s been tasked to go find.

For the first time in centuries, a dragon has been reported on the edge of the Feyfell. Homes, cities, and forests are all threatened with fiery destruction. The news has plunged the Fae Kingdom into a panic.

Desperate to know the truth behind the reports, and unable to discretely dispatch his own fae soldiers to investigate, King Elyan tasks Lynette, Baxter and Eirlon with tracking down the whereabouts and intentions of the fiery beast.

But Lynette is still only a second-year student at the Fae Academy. She has come far – but she knows she’s no Arche-Mage. Baxter is still struggling to prove his worth, hoping Lynette might see him as something more than the boy-squire she first met two years before. And Eirlon – he still hordes secrets Lynette can only suspect. A girl, a boy, and a gnome – on the hunt for a fire-breathing dragon.

The threats facing the Fae Kingdom, however, are multiplying. A traitor has set his sights on King Elyan, while the Arche-Fae Council continues to treat the Princess Elise as an outsider – an adopted daughter rather than a noblefae by birth. Hostile armies are gathering on the kingdom’s northern frontier, while the mage-turned-swordsman Garth must balance between rescuing a boy on a quest and averting a larger war.

With sightings of dragons, rumors of war, and trained assassins stalking the land, will there even be a Feyfell for Lynette to return to?

First Review of Book 2 on Goodreads

Just two days away from the release of Book 2 of the "Stormfall Chronicles", and I have my first review (four stars out of five) posted by one of my ARC readers on Goodreads.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3081210268?book_show_action=true

To quote from a segment of the review:

I felt like this book was much better than the first. We got a lot more content to the overarching story and the settings were a lot more fleshed out. The dangers are more imminent now. The book is also well written and it has good pacing. . . . The action was just non-stop.

Thanks again to Paige Green for agreeing to read and review the book :-)  Her website can be found below:
https://popthebutterfly.wordpress.com/

Countdown to Book 2 Release - And Half-Way Through First Draft to Book 3

I am now only four days away from the release of Storm's Clouds, the second book in the Stormfall Chronicles. Time to update my Blog, Facebook and other social media sites accordingly.

Concurrently, I am now roughly half way through my first draft for the third book in the series. All around a reason to celebrate.

Paperback Edition Begins to Ship

Copies of the paperback edition to Storm's Clouds have already begun to ship to the advance reviewers:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4mfIYmoHK1/

Many thanks again to Lia Dospetti and the other reviewers who have volunteered to provide their impressions on the latest installment.

The eBook is due for release on 19 December.

Cover Reveal: Stormfall Chronicles Book 2

It has been a long time coming, but I am finally releasing the cover image and blurb for Storm's Clouds - Book 2 of the Stormfall Chronicles.

A dragon: the most powerful, destructive and malevolent force known. The last thing Lynette ever wanted to get closer to – and the one thing she’s been tasked to go find.

For the first time in centuries, a dragon has been reported on the edge of the Feyfell. Homes, cities, and forests are all threatened with fiery destruction. The news has plunged the Fae Kingdom into a panic.

Desperate to know the truth behind the reports, and unable to discretely dispatch his own fae soldiers to investigate, King Elyan tasks Lynette, Baxter and Eirlon with tracking down the whereabouts and intentions of the fiery beast.

But Lynette is still only a second-year student at the Fae Academy. She has come far – but she knows she’s no Arche-Mage. Baxter is still struggling to prove his worth, hoping Lynette might see him as something more than the boy-squire she first met two years before. And Eirlon – he still hordes secrets Lynette can only suspect. A girl, a boy, and a gnome – on the hunt for a fire-breathing dragon.

The threats facing the Fae Kingdom, however, are multiplying. A traitor has set his sights on King Elyan, while the Arche-Fae Council continues to treat the Princess Elise as an outsider – an adopted daughter rather than a noblefae by birth. Hostile armies are gathering on the kingdom’s northern frontier, while the mage-turned-swordsman Garth must balance between rescuing a boy on a quest and averting a larger war.

With sightings of dragons, rumors of war, and trained assassins stalking the land, will there even be a Feyfell for Lynette to return to?

Storm's Clouds is now available for Pre-Order on Amazon with a December 19th release date.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z429ZJP

Status Update - Book 2 - Final Edit Complete

I have completed my seventh edit of Book 2 of the Stormfall Chronicles. The word count still stands at around 121,000 words - so the seventh proofread/review cycle had essentially no effect on the overall word count.

I expect the next steps towards release to happen in rapid succession:

• Formatting the manuscript for eBook and paperback editions
• Release of the blurb for the book
• Cover unveiling
• Timing and release of the promotional campaign

Having reviewed the experiences and suggestions from a number of successful indie authors, I am planning to focus a little more energy on the pre-release cycle for this book, including booking a Blog Tour and the release of Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) for the book. Any of my regular followers who might be interested in being an ARC reviewer should check back periodically for more details.

Status Update - Book 2 - Beta Reader Edits Complete

Finally - the edits from my second beta-reader have been incorporated into Book 2 of the Stormfall Chronicles. The entire editing process has taken longer than I might have anticipated, but there really is no cutting corners when it comes to editing a novel. All the iterations are necessary to produce a quality story that flows smoothly.

In the process of incorporating the final round of edits, the text has grown in length from 118,000 words at the end of the fifth round of edits (from my first beta-reader), to 121,000 words today.

Concurrently, I have been re-reading and polishing the text one final time from the beginning, and am currently through Chapter 5 of my seventh round of edits. At this point, the changes tend to be cosmetic: word substitutions here and there, or sentences that needed to be added or removed.

The next steps towards publication include:

• Completing the seventh round of edits
• Formatting the manuscript for eBook and paperback editions
• Final edit and release of the blurb for the book
• Cover unveiling
• Timing and release of the promotional campaign

It's been an arduous process, but I am pleased that I can finally see that light at the end of the tunnel.

Maintaining Momentum

With demands from school, and applications for college to complete, my beta-reader's time has become more scarce these past few weeks.

To maintain momentum, I have therefore returned to the beginning of Book 2 of the Stormfall Chronicles for another round of proof-reading and edits. As of now, I have completed the seventh round of edits on Chapters 1 through 3. Most of the changes that I am making at this point have been to fine-tune the prose: eliminating unnecessary words, replacing some word choices here and there, or adding a sentence or two where appropriate. Many pages have required no editing - so the text was already very close to its final form.

I've also been gradually adding to the first draft of Chapter 1 for Book 3.