Peeking Between the Pages

...escape into the pages of a good book

Guest Post with Bruce Skye, Author of Grayrider & Giveaway

by


I’m very pleased today to Welcome Bruce Skye, author of Grayrider to Peeking Between the Pages. I really enjoyed his novel and you can see my review of it here. Stay tuned at the end of the guest post with Bruce for a giveaway. Read on to gain some insight into what Bruce thinks about creativity and writing.

Why Not? by Bruce Skye

To be quite honest, I have no idea how someone can write fiction successfully and not be creative. Robert Kennedy said “Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say, why not.” If writers can’t think that way, how can they can they devise the kind of plot twists, in-depth characters and suspense my novels have?

To show what I mean, let me share portions of just a few of the reviews of my fantasy novel Grayrider:

  • His great character development and strong story line make this a great read.
  • Grayrider was a very good read with lots of twists to the story. I really look forward to another book from this series.
  • The story line moves at a fast pace and keeps the reader very involved. I found that I could not put the book down.”

I write what I do for the simple fact I’m a creative person. I’m happiest when I’m working on a novel, in creating new situations the heroes must deal with. And it is always a challenge to give new depth to a protagonist and make him or her more real for the reader. Even though I write fantasy, making the characters—both bad and good—real for those reading my words is important. That adds a great deal to the suspense of the plot.

Creativity is essential to write good novels. I can’t see how you can do it otherwise. Another reviewer commented about me:

  • I think this series has potential as Mr. Skye has a very creative imagination that will allow the adventure to continue to grow in original ways.

She’s right. My imagination is quite vivid and I try to make every novel in this series a very different story from the last. The second volume of the Deathsong Chronicles is a direct result of the climax of Grayrider. And the third is a very stark contrast to the first two. And in all of them, I work to keep my readers on the edge of their seats.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A former technical writer, detail is important to Bruce Skye. His research for the Deathsong Chronicles included medieval armor and fortresses, as well as Celtic names and magic. “If you create a world, it must be consistent. And that’s what I strive for Grayrider’s world to be. I’ve built a database of material for each of the Deathsong Chronicles. Those databases aid me in keeping the world the same from book to book.

“When I wrote Grayrider, I followed the advice of Stephen King. I did not write the book following any sort of outline. I have no more idea than my readers do when I write a novel what will happen in the midst of the story. It makes it more exciting for both the readers and myself.”

You can visit his website at http://www.bruceskye.com/.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Gabriel, the exiled king of Rivalin, comes before King Airell to warn him the Ansgarian army will invade his kingdom before the night is over. Airell tells him he has no one to send. Gabriel wants revenge for the murder of his family by the Ansgarians. He decides to fight the incursion without help.

As this takes place, Deirdre (Airell’s daughter), flees the kingdom of Cynyr north of Boadhagh. She knows now her mentor, Morrigan, created the Ansgarian army her father has fought for years. She goes south to warn him of her. Because Deirdre does not believe in herself, the young sorceress has difficulty in performing magic.

Once she is reunited with her father, she tells both he and Grayrider about Morrigan. Her power is growing; only Gabriel’s magical sword may yet destroy her. He must go to Cynyr to fight her. He agrees if Deirdre attends him, seeking her counsel. On that journey they fall in love and foil many efforts by Morrigan to kill Gabriel by both armies and sorcerers.

Grayrider fights Morrigan and sees his beloved slain by the sorceress before he is finally able to kill her. He returns to Rivalin brokenhearted. The ending is a -complete surprise the reader will not expect at all.

—————————————————-

The Giveaway: In Honor of the Book Giveaway Carnival at Bookroom Reviews, my gently read hardcover copy is up for grabs. The rules are simple…leave me a comment with an email address and I’ll draw for a winner on Monday, March 9. This is open worldwide. Good luck!

Visit Pump Up Your Book Promotion here.

Share this post!
Share

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. No need to enter me in the giveaway but as a technical writer myself, I can appreciate the creative edge that Mr. Skye speaks of, since technical writing is often so dry.

  4. I so envy creative people. By the time I finish my work, creativity is poofed gone out the window, lol. Thanks for hosting Bruce today, Dar!

  7. What a great post, Bruce! No need to enter me – just wanted to pop in and check out what words of wisdom Bruce left us today on your blog, Dar!

  11. Can I be entered to, if it is an international comp. Great guest blog. It is so nice to hear what the writer thinks.

    vivienne_dacostaathotmail.com

  19. no need to enter me, but I really enjoyed the guest post and his comments about a need for imagination and creativity to be a writer. I really loved the Kennedy quote as well. Why NOT!

    I’ll post this in my sidebar for you though.

  20. I agree that writers are creative in the way they use their imagination. If not, how could the readers follow the storyline or how could all these paranormal could come about?

    Thanks for giving away your copy to us readers.

    -Sue
    okibi_insanity[at]yahoo[dot]com

  31. It really sounds great. Please count me in.

    carianmoonlight (at) gmail (dot) com

  34. Thanks for the chance to win. It looks like a great book.
    ruthann (dot) francis (at) gmail (dot) com

  35. I’m always up for a good fantasy read. Thanks for the great giveaway.
    spackattak7(at)hotmail(dot)com

  37. This sounds like something my daughter would love to read Please enter me in the drawing. florida982002[at]yahoo[dot]com

  42. I love a good fantasy novel! And my son would kill for this too! Thanks for the opportuny!

    Kelly

    enroutetolife(at)gmail(dot)com

  44. This sounds like an awesome book so please enter me for this one and thanks!
    LadyVampire2u(AT)gmail(DOT)com

  45. This sounds like an awesome book so please enter me for this one and thanks!
    LadyVampire2u(AT)gmail(DOT)com

  47. This sounds really good, and I liked that the author mentioned the importance of researching topics that are relevant to your writing.

    I’d love to be entered in the giveaway 🙂
    shiloki (at) gmail (dot) com

  50. I am interested in winning this one too, Dar. I enjoyed reading the author’s guest post about writing and creativity. The two definitely do go hand in hand when it comes to fiction writing.

    literaryfeline(at)gmail(dot)com

  52. Thanks for posting Bruce, I’m interested after reading this, and putting you on my bookist.

  53. This book sounds real good. Please enter me, and thanks for having this giveaway.

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

  57. Greetings! My son loves Fantasy books! Please enter my name in your marvelous book giveaway drawing. Many thanks…..Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

  59. very interesting interview you got there. Got me intrigued by the book. Please toss my name in the hat for the drawing.

    ivan[dot]girl25[at]gmail[dot]com

  60. Grayrider sounds like a really interesting book! Please enter me.

    kyrissaean(at)live(dot)ca

  64. Sounds like a really good read. Love the fantasy books. Thank you for the giveaway

  68. A great fantasy book – right up my alley! Please count me in.

    Thanks,
    megalon22 at yahoo dot com

  71. I Like fantasy but I need more than just a re-hash of old tales. I would like to see if Bruce has managed to come up with something a little bit different so please enter me

  73. I would love a chance to add Grayryder to my colllection of books, thank you for the chance

    Nona
    san(underscore)peppy(at)hotmail(dot)com

  74. Great post!
    Thanks for the chance to win an excellent book

    slcremer at gmail dot com

  76. Sounds like a good book. I would love to read it. Please enter me. Thanks for having this giveaway.

    ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

  78. I love fantasy novels – and this looks like a fun one, complete with sword and sorcery and exiled royalty.

    teetersj(at)gmail(dot)com