Books by Michael D. Young

Young Adult Blog Hop

January 26th, 2012

Welcome to another great giveaway! Just full out the form below between the 27th and 31st for a chance to win a free signed copy of “The Canticle Kingdom”. As one of the options for this contest, I have included checking out the web serial that is a prelude to “The Canticle Kingdom” called “Canticle of Night”. So, if you’d like to see (or even hear) a sample of my writing, please go visit the link provided and check it out. (Don’t forget to “like” it). In other news, I hope to get the sequel out this year, entitled “The Frozen Globe”. I already have a cover for it, and it looks awesome. If I can get over 150 entries in this giveaway, I will reveal the cover when I announce the winner.

Don’t forget to visit all the other great blogs participating in the hop using the list below the entry form.

http://www.bigworldnetwork.com/CanticleofNight.html

/*{literal}{/literal}*/ a Rafflecopter giveaway&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=”http://rafl.es/enable-js”&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;.
Two Interviews: One Real, One Fictional

January 19th, 2012

This week I’ve got a another character interview, this time from Xandir’s sidekick, Jarom the Cherub.

Speaking of interviews, I have one up here on Booksnatch that includes a giveaway of “The Canticle Kingdom”. Hop on over for more details.

http://booksnatch.blogspot.com/2012/01/interview-giveaway-michael-d-young.html

Interviewer: Today with us we have Jarom the cherub. He’s looking a little shell shocked. What’s the matter, kid? Never seen a city before?

Jarom: Actually, no, not an earthly one. It’s a little…dingy.

Interviewer: What did you expect? You mean they don’t let you look down here with your little heavenly periscopes or something?

Jarom: Oh, we could. I just never wanted to. It is heaven after all.

Interviewer: So, first I want to ask, are the streets there really paved with gold?

Jarom: Gold? For a garbage can maybe. We’ve got much better stuff than gold up there.

Interviewer: Interesting. Now tell me, what about St. Peter? Does he really sit up there at the gates and wait for everyone? Sounds like that could get a little boring.

Jarom: I think it would be more accurate to say the “Saints Peter” do that job.

Interviewer: I don’t understand.

Jarom: The St Peter you’re thinking about only does it once in a while. Basically, they recruit anyone who happens to be named Peter and split up the shifts among them. Most newcomers are too starry-eyed to notice the difference.

Interviewer: So what’s your job up there? Do you work for Cupid or something?

Jarom: Cupid? Heavens, no. He may look cuddly, but don’t get on his bad side, and don’t even think about using the word ‘cute’. Those heart-tipped arrows are plenty sharp. I actually work in the ambrosia business.

Interviewer: Ambrosia? Tell us about it.

Jarom: It’s only best food on heaven or earth. Manna comes in at a close second. Sometimes we even mix the too and have ambrosia filled manna. Literally, a match made in heaven.

Interviewer: So would you care to share the recipe? Sounds like I could win a few contests with that one.

Jarom: I only wish I could. Sharing the secrets of Heaven with man is a banishable offense. If you a taste, I’d have to kill you.

Interviewer: A donut to die for. Now you’re just being cruel.

Jarom: I really am sorry. One angel who gave away secrets got made a destroying angel thousands of years. I can’t think of anything worse than that.

Interviewer: Do you have a pet peeve? Do angels have pet peeves?

Jarom: I assure you they do. And I know mine. It’s when people say ‘cherubs’. It’s not a word. More than one cherub and you say ‘cherubim’. Tell your friends.

Interviewer: I know you’re busy, but is there anything else you can tell us about heaven?

Jarom: Just that it’s worth it. I miss it like crazy already, and I’d do anything to get back. Something tells me that there’s a rocky road ahead before that happens.

Interview: Thank you, Jarom. We’ll let you get on to your assignment. There you have it folks, from the mouth of an actual cherub, proving that there actually are donuts in heaven.
Interview with Jarom and Giveaway

January 19th, 2012

This week I’ve got a another character interview, this time from Xandir’s sidekick, Jarom the Cherub.

Speaking of interviews, I have one up here on Booksnatch that includes a giveaway of “The Canticle Kingdom”. Hop on over for more details.

http://booksnatch.blogspot.com/2012/01/interview-giveaway-michael-d-young.html

Interviewer: Today with us we have Jarom the cherub. He’s looking a little shell shocked. What’s the matter, kid? Never seen a city before?

Jarom: Actually, no, not an earthly one. It’s a little…dingy.

Interviewer: What did you expect? You mean they don’t let you look down here with your little heavenly periscopes or something?

Jarom: Oh, we could. I just never wanted to. It is heaven after all.

Interviewer: So, first I want to ask, are the streets there really paved with gold?

Jarom: Gold? For a garbage can maybe. We’ve got much better stuff than gold up there.

Interviewer: Interesting. Now tell me, what about St. Peter? Does he really sit up there at the gates and wait for everyone? Sounds like that could get a little boring.

Jarom: I think it would be more accurate to say the “Saints Peter” do that job.

Interviewer: I don’t understand.

Jarom: The St Peter you’re thinking about only does it once in a while. Basically, they recruit anyone who happens to be named Peter and split up the shifts among them. Most newcomers are too starry-eyed to notice the difference.

Interviewer: So what’s your job up there? Do you work for Cupid or something?

Jarom: Cupid? Heavens, no. He may look cuddly, but don’t get on his bad side, and don’t even think about using the word ‘cute’. Those heart-tipped arrows are plenty sharp. I actually work in the ambrosia business.

Interviewer: Ambrosia? Tell us about it.

Jarom: It’s only best food on heaven or earth. Manna comes in at a close second. Sometimes we even mix the too and have ambrosia filled manna. Literally, a match made in heaven.

Interviewer: So would you care to share the recipe? Sounds like I could win a few contests with that one.

Jarom: I only wish I could. Sharing the secrets of Heaven with man is a banishable offense. If you a taste, I’d have to kill you.

Interviewer: A donut to die for. Now you’re just being cruel.

Jarom: I really am sorry. One angel who gave away secrets got made a destroying angel thousands of years. I can’t think of anything worse than that.

Interviewer: Do you have a pet peeve? Do angels have pet peeves?

Jarom: I assure you they do. And I know mine. It’s when people say ‘cherubs’. It’s not a word. More than one cherub and you say ‘cherubim’. Tell your friends.

Interviewer: I know you’re busy, but is there anything else you can tell us about heaven?

Jarom: Just that it’s worth it. I miss it like crazy already, and I’d do anything to get back. Something tells me that there’s a rocky road ahead before that happens.

Interview: Thank you, Jarom. We’ll let you get on to your assignment. There you have it folks, from the mouth of an actual cherub, proving that there actually are donuts in heaven.
Blog Tour: Time Gangsters

January 17th, 2012

Separately, I think that either gangsters or time travel make for an interesting read. Together they’re more powerful than a Tommy gun with a full clip. You might think that the mash up is complete, but wait…there’s more. You also need to throw in ancient Egyptian coins with magical powers.

Though this sounds like the stuff of a strange Monty Python sketch, it all works out. That is the genius of Berin’s writing: he takes off-the-wall scenarios and turns them into entertaining reads. Instead of following the trends, he creates his own. (The book is blissfully free of anything resembling a werewolf or vampire.)

Berin did an excellent job of capturing the atmosphere and language of the gangsters are the characters move back and forth in time. It was also interesting to see his magic system at play with the various coins and their powers, especially how those powers often backfired on the kids and gangsters who tried to harness them.

“Time Gangsters” is a quick and entertaining read that I’d highly recommend. The author’s vivid imagination and quirky humor shine throughout. You’ll also want to find Berin to have him sign a copy for you. The last time I saw him promoting this book, he came equipped with the pinstriped suit and fedora, though I’m guessing the bookstore frowned on him sporting anything resembling a tommy gun.

This one’s the cat’s meow, the bee’s knees, you hear?

Order here: http://amzn.com/1599559668

Helpful Site:
Accredited Online Colleges has information on English programs of study.
Second Verse, Same as the First

January 16th, 2012

Week Two went about as well as week one, even though we were in the middle of moving from our apartment into a beautiful brand new condo. We’re all settled in and loving it. Don’t write off writing just because you are busy!

Stats:
My word count for the week: 14079
Running Total: 31645
Monthly Percentage: 63.3%
Yearly Percentage: 5.3%

Writing Tip of the Week:
Take rejections in stride. I had a very disappointing rejection this week, and stuff like that just hits you where it hurts…metaphorically of course. I think it’s okay to be sad for a little bit, to mourn that lost opportunity, but then you have turn around and start making your next moves. If you are not careful, you might be tempted to let that project languish on the farther back of burners so that nothing happens.

Most of time, it is not that your project was bad, just that it didn’t fit what the publisher wants right now. Send it off again as soon as possible. I’m already preparing to send it to two more publishers myself.

Writing Update:
I’m continuing to map out another web serial, and working on recording the audio version of “Canticle of Night”. Did you know it is available for free on iTunes? Good stuff.

I have been working hard this week on a non-fiction project for once that is a guide for LDS Ward Choir directors, but also can be helpful for any church choir directors. It is a topic about which I know quite a bit, having done it several times.

I’m also working hard on the third and final installments of “The Canticle Kingdom” and “The Last Archangel” series. Just getting these off the ground. In addition, I am preparing a novel called “Countdown” to enter in Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Award. Last year, my novel “Starspire” (as yet unpublished) was a quarter-finalist. I’d love to get at least to the semi-finals this year!

If you want to listen to or read “Canticle of Night”, please visit my page at http://www.bigworldnetwork.com/CanticleofNight.html

I’d love to know what you think about it!
Second Verse, Same as the First

January 16th, 2012

Week Two went about as well as week one, even though we were in the middle of moving from our apartment into a beautiful brand new condo. We’re all settled in and loving it. Don’t write off writing just because you are busy!

Stats:
My word count for the week: 14079
Running Total: 31645
Monthly Percentage: 63.3%
Yearly Percentage: 5.3%

Writing Tip of the Week:
Take rejections in stride. I had a very disappointing rejection this week, and stuff like that just hits you where it hurts…metaphorically of course. I think it’s okay to be sad for a little bit, to mourn that lost opportunity, but then you have turn around and start making your next moves. If you are not careful, you might be tempted to let that project languish on the farther back of burners so that nothing happens.

Most of time, it is not that your project was bad, just that it didn’t fit what the publisher wants right now. Send it off again as soon as possible. I’m already preparing to send it to two more publishers myself.

Writing Update:
I’m continuing to map out another web serial, and working on recording the audio version of “Canticle of Night”. Did you know it is available for free on iTunes? Good stuff.

I have been working hard this week on a non-fiction project for once that is a guide for LDS Ward Choir directors, but also can be helpful for any church choir directors. It is a topic about which I know quite a bit, having done it several times.

I’m also working hard on the third and final installments of “The Canticle Kingdom” and “The Last Archangel” series. Just getting these off the ground. In addition, I am preparing a novel called “Countdown” to enter in Amazon’s Breakthrough Novel Award. Last year, my novel “Starspire” (as yet unpublished) was a quarter-finalist. I’d love to get at least to the semi-finals this year!

If you want to listen to or read “Canticle of Night”, please visit my page at http://www.bigworldnetwork.com/CanticleofNight.html

I’d love to know what you think about it!
January 13th, 2012

Today as promised, an interview with Xandir, the main character of my novel, “The Last Archangel”.

Speaking of, you can also read a new review here:http://booksnatch.blogspot.com/2012/01/book-review-last-archangel-by-michael-d.html

Enjoy!

Interviewer: We
have here today a guest that wasn’t so easy to get ahold of. He isn’t listed in the yellow pages, you can’t
read his blog, and the guy never tweets. Xandir is a destroying angel by day,
and by night…well, still a destroying angel.
In fact, he’s got the gig until the End of the World. At least there’s job security, right?

Xandir: You’re
awfully gutsy making fun of some with a sword in each hand. I’ll have you know,
I once toasted two cities and turned a lady into a pillar of salt all before
lunchtime. Don’t test me.

Interviewer: Sorry, it’s just, I’ve never interviewed an
angel before. From all the paintings and stained glass windows I’ve seen, you
all seemed to be an easy-going lot. I
see I’ve been misled.

Xandir: Yeah,
well, you wouldn’t be the first. I know we don’t exactly offer to pose for
portraits, but greeting card companies really just need to try harder.

Interviewer: Perhaps you would like to dispel some other
common misconceptions for us, Xandir.

Xandir: Sure,
where do I start? I could probably write a whole book about it.

Interviewer: What
about music in heaven? Is harp strumming compulsory?

Xandir: Do you
think I’d be caught dead with something as frilly as a harp? No, angels play
all sorts of things, though I think a few instruments have been banned. The
accordion, the bagpipes, and the kazoo have been relegated to Hell.

Interviewer: Kazoo-wielding
demons. Now there’s one more reason to
stay on the straight and narrow. I can’t help but notice that your wings don’t
look quite like I had imagined. They look more like the surface of a bubble. Do
all angels have them?

Xandir: Most do.
But remember the wings are more substantial than they look, and we’re not
birds. Not even little cherubs for all their sickly-sweetness.

Interviewer:
That’s reminds me, there seem to be a lot of different types of angels. How does that work?

Xandir: The
little bite-sized ones are the cherubim. They are the younger ones in training,
usually apprentices to more senior angels.
The suck-ups get made Seraphim, who take great pride in supervising the
rest of us. I’ve got a High Seraph who acts as my glorified baby sitter. It’s
his job to make sure I don’t just destroy stuff for fun. Or boredom. I guess there are some Archangels
even above them, but who cares about them?

Interviewer:
Interesting. Now, I’ve got to ask, is there really a cloud nine? What makes it
so great?

Xandir: Yeah, it
exists, but it’s not really that much better than clouds one through eight. I think there’s a pretty good ambrosia stand
there, but, you know, it’s been a while.

Interviewer: So,
I know you’ve probably got to get on to destroying some more things, but I’ve
got to know. What’s will halos? You
don’t seem to have one.

Xandir: You’re
pretty observant for a mortal. The deal
is, not all angels have them. What you
all see as a halo is actually a crown given to big wig angels. Like most angelic clothing, the crowns glow
and create that ‘halo’ effect around the angel’s face. What I’d do to try on one of the Archangel’s
crowns. It would make a Rolex look like
a Cracker Jack toy.

Interviewer:
Where are you going? I have some other questions I’d like to ask.

Xandir: Too
bad. Duty calls. Oh, and I’d stay off the interstate today if
I were you. I’m headed there now, and it
might not be pretty.

Interviewer:
Thanks for the tip. I’ll…and he’s gone.
You heard him folks, straight from the angel’s mouth: stay off the interstate,
and, well, don’t take up the kazoo.
Interview with Xandir

January 13th, 2012

Today as promised, an interview with Xandir, the main character of my novel, “The Last Archangel”.

Speaking of, you can also read a new review here:http://booksnatch.blogspot.com/2012/01/book-review-last-archangel-by-michael-d.html

Enjoy!

Interviewer: We have here today a guest that wasn’t so easy to get ahold of. He isn’t listed in the yellow pages, you can’t read his blog, and the guy never tweets. Xandir is a destroying angel by day, and by night…well, still a destroying angel. In fact, he’s got the gig until the End of the World. At least there’s job security, right?

Xandir: You’re awfully gutsy making fun of some with a sword in each hand. I’ll have you know, I once toasted two cities and turned a lady into a pillar of salt all before lunchtime. Don’t test me.

Interviewer: Sorry, it’s just, I’ve never interviewed an angel before. From all the paintings and stained glass windows I’ve seen, you all seemed to be an easy-going lot. I see I’ve been misled.

Xandir: Yeah, well, you wouldn’t be the first. I know we don’t exactly offer to pose for portraits, but greeting card companies really just need to try harder.

Interviewer: Perhaps you would like to dispel some other common misconceptions for us, Xandir.

Xandir: Sure, where do I start? I could probably write a whole book about it.

Interviewer: What about music in heaven? Is harp strumming compulsory?

Xandir: Do you think I’d be caught dead with something as frilly as a harp? No, angels play all sorts of things, though I think a few instruments have been banned. The accordion, the bagpipes, and the kazoo have been relegated to Hell.

Interviewer: Kazoo-wielding demons. Now there’s one more reason to stay on the straight and narrow. I can’t help but notice that your wings don’t look quite like I had imagined. They look more like the surface of a bubble. Do all angels have them?

Xandir: Most do. But remember the wings are more substantial than they look, and we’re not birds. Not even little cherubs for all their sickly-sweetness.

Interviewer: That’s reminds me, there seem to be a lot of different types of angels. How does that work?

Xandir: The little bite-sized ones are the cherubim. They are the younger ones in training, usually apprentices to more senior angels. The suck-ups get made Seraphim, who take great pride in supervising the rest of us. I’ve got a High Seraph who acts as my glorified baby sitter. It’s his job to make sure I don’t just destroy stuff for fun. Or boredom. I guess there are some Archangels even above them, but who cares about them?

Interviewer: Interesting. Now, I’ve got to ask, is there really a cloud nine? What makes it so great?

Xandir: Yeah, it exists, but it’s not really that much better than clouds one through eight. I think there’s a pretty good ambrosia stand there, but, you know, it’s been a while.

Interviewer: So, I know you’ve probably got to get on to destroying some more things, but I’ve got to know. What’s will halos? You don’t seem to have one.

Xandir: You’re pretty observant for a mortal. The deal is, not all angels have them. What you all see as a halo is actually a crown given to big wig angels. Like most angelic clothing, the crowns glow and create that ‘halo’ effect around the angel’s face. What I’d do to try on one of the Archangel’s crowns. It would make a Rolex look like a Cracker Jack toy.

Interviewer: Where are you going? I have some other questions I’d like to ask.

Xandir: Too bad. Duty calls. Oh, and I’d stay off the interstate today if I were you. I’m headed there now, and it might not be pretty.

Interviewer:Thanks for the tip. I’ll…and he’s gone. You heard him folks, straight from the angel’s mouth: stay off the interstate, and, well, don’t take up the kazoo.
One Week Down!

January 11th, 2012

My first leg of my marathon writing year went very well. I’m a little ahead of schedule and feel like it’s really something that I can sustain. I want to get ahead, because you never know what will come up and some weeks will be busier than others.

I think it is fun to keep stats in order to gauge progress. So, here we have it:

Stats:
My word count for the week: 14907
Monthly Percentage: 29.8%
Yearly Percentage: 2.4%

Writing Tip of the Week:
Don’t discount your smaller writing stretches. If you have five minutes here, there minutes there, you may not think that would be much. Just yesterday, I had a day like that, writing 100 words here, 86 words there and ended up writing almost 2,000 words by the end of the day! To put that in perspective, I need to write about 1,643 words per day if I want to hit 600,000 by the end of the year. Next time you have a few minutes, instead of checking Facebook for the fifth time, write a paragraph or two.

Writing Update:
I’m working on recording the first season of my web serial “Canticle of Night” and just got finished writing the second serial “Canticle of Dawn”. I’m planning a third one called “Canticle of Twilight”, which I assure you will have nothing to do with vampires or sparkly creatures of any kind.

I’ve also started a new book called “Wandaful”, where the main character is named…you guessed it “Wanda” and it has to do with magic wands. (But not your grandmother’s magic wands…that is, if your grandmother was a magician or something.) More to follow on all these exciting projects!

If you want to listen to or read “Canticle of Night”, please visit my page at http://www.bigworldnetwork.com/CanticleofNight.html

I’d love to know what you think about it!

Also, Rafflecopter just went out to the public. It’s a great tool and you should enter the giveaway below and get to know them better. If you enter, let them know that I referred you.

(more…)
One Week Down

January 9th, 2012

My first leg of my marathon writing year went very well. I’m a little ahead of schedule and feel like it’s really something that I can sustain. I want to get ahead, because you never know what will come up and some weeks will be busier than others.

I think it is fun to keep stats in order to gauge progress. So, here we have it:

Stats:
My word count for the week: 14907
Monthly Percentage: 29.8%
Yearly Percentage: 2.4%

Writing Tip of the Week:
Don’t discount your smaller writing stretches. If you have five minutes here, there minutes there, you may not think that would be much. Just yesterday, I had a day like that, writing 100 words here, 86 words there and ended up writing almost 2,000 words by the end of the day! To put that in perspective, I need to write about 1,643 words per day if I want to hit 600,000 by the end of the year. Next time you have a few minutes, instead of checking Facebook for the fifth time, write a paragraph or two.

Writing Update:
I’m working on recording the first season of my web serial “Canticle of Night” and just got finished writing the second serial “Canticle of Dawn”. I’m planning a third one called “Canticle of Twilight”, which I assure you will have nothing to do with vampires or sparkly creatures of any kind.

I’ve also started a new book called “Wandaful”, where the main character is named…you guessed it “Wanda” and it has to do with magic wands. (But not your grandmother’s magic wands…that is, if your grandmother was a magician or something.) More to follow on all these exciting projects!

If you want to listen to or read “Canticle of Night”, please visit my page at http://www.bigworldnetwork.com/CanticleofNight.html

I’d love to know what you think about it!

Also, Rafflecopter just went out to the public. It’s a great tool and you should enter the giveaway below and get to know them better. If you enter, let them know that I referred you.

/*{literal}{/literal}*/ a Rafflecopter giveaway&amp;lt;a href=”http://rafl.es/enable-js”&amp;gt;You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.

How are your New Year’s writing goals coming along? Leave a comment and let me know so we can cheer each other on.